L.A. Focus Newspaper September 2021

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Church News: Carson Pastor Relays Harrowing Story in New Book PAGE

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Hollywood Buzz The Queens Are Coming to ABC PAGE

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Feature

Countdown to the September 14 Recall Election: Everything You Need to Know In support of the campaign to stop the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, over 90 influential Black leaders in education, religion, politics and civil rights joined together for press conference, moderated by Lateefah Simon, a Bay Area-based women’s and civil rights activist. Each voiced their support for the governor and shared why they intend to vote ‘no’ on the recall...

Money Matters: Crenshaw Mall Sold: Activists Say Battle for Black Ownership is Not Over

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L.A. Focus Publications

September2021

L-R: LADWP Board President Cynthia McClain-Hill joins City Councilmember Curren D. Price, Jr. and Power Commissioners to announce a partnership to build a new park; Governor Gavin Newsom joins Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas at West Angeles COGIC; Pastor K.W. Tulloss and wife, Khalilah in pose with director Liesl Tommy after screening of movie for L.A. pastors; Maranatha Pastor Steve Dyson and wife Reatha celebrated 50 years of marriage last month.

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4 Commentary

From The Editor “Turn Up and Turn Out”

$215 Million Recall Election is Baseless, TrumpBacked Power Grab

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Hollywood Buzz

The Queens Are Coming to ABC; Steve Harvey to Star in New Courtroom Comedy; Wonder Years in Black

One On One

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“Run Karen Run”: The Campaign to Make Congresswoman Karen Bass L.A.’s Next Mayor; L.A. City Council Adopts Antiracism Motion to Ensure Equity; Afiba Center Become Focus of Contentious Battle

8 Headlines From Africa

Differing Views on Advancing Diversity & Racial Justice

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Money Matters Crenshaw Mall Sold, Activists Say Battle for Black Ownership Is Far From Over

Biz News Briefs Serena Williams Pacts With Zales for Jewelry Collection; Allyson Felix’s Next Frontier

On the Money New Car Prices Hit Record High

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Cover Story Countdown to the September 14 Recall: Everything You Need to Know

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

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

On the Red Carpet at the Respect Premiere

Eye On Gospel

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Special Report

Yvette Nicole Brown

“The First Cut Is The Deepest”– Domestic Violence& the Strong Black Women Stereotype

15 Church News 16

GameChanger

Judge Songhai Armstead’s Mission to Provide Alternatives to Incarceration

From The Pit to the Pulpit: Carson Pastor Relays Harrowing Story in New Book; Prayers for Jesse Jackson; Darrell Wesley Takes Helm at Phillips Temple

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Ayesha Curry

First Lady Files Shonta Hilton

Prayers to the family of NeNe Leakes on the loss of her husband, Gregg Leakes who passed on September 1 after a long battle with colon cancer. The former beloved cast member of the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” was 66. A spokesman has asked for prayers and privacy through what is a difficult time.

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

Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Pastor K.W Tulloss Bishop Robert T. Douglas Sr. L.A. Focus/September 2021

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

Red Carpet Style CeCe Winans & Kirk Franklin Among Top Dove Award Nominees

Head to Head

Frederick Howard

CrossWord Christian Church (Moreno Valley) with Pastor Kirk Sykes

Marlon Wayans

UpFront

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

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

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

Cover Design: UpScale Media Group

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Commentary

CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA LEE Guest Columnist

“$215 Million Recall Election is Baseless, Trump-Backed Power Grab”

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ust as it seemed we as a country were coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, we find ourselves faced with another challenge as the Delta variant of the virus spreads more rapidly throughout our communities. On top of the pandemic, we are also heading into another fire season while many of our neighbors remain unhoused. We know that low-income Californians, people of color and women who take care of their families while also providing essential care for others are feeling a disproportionate share of these burdens.

It is during this time that Republicans have chosen to once again return to the Donald Trump playbook of political games by attempting to recall Governor Gavin Newsom and overturn his election without any merit or standing.

This recall effort -_ in addition to being completely baseless and a blatantly political power grab -- is completely inappropriate during this period where we need to allow our elected leaders to handle very significant challenges. This recall election of the governorship alone will cost Californians $215 million in taxpayer money, money that could have been spent battling wildfires, developing housing, or combatting a pandemic that continues to threaten our health and public safety.

As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I know how much Californians -- and African American Californians in particular -- have to lose from this Republican ploy. We know that recall supporters from the Trump camp understand they cannot win in a normal election, they are yet again using underhanded tactics to undermine our democratic elections. As we fight against voter suppression in Congress and in states like Georgia, we must realize that the recall election is the California version of that same Republican agenda.

Governor Newsom won his position in 2018 and has since set an example to the nation for what strong leader

ship can do in the face of crisis. Since the very beginning of this pandemic, we remember California was and continues to be looked upon as a gold standard for testing, vaccination, and virus protocols.

Governor Newsom has proven his ability to lead California through the pandemic, and his resume ensures he is more than up to the task of controlling the Delta Variant.

Now, the Trump-backed recall is setting its sights on dismantling all the work we as a state have done to keep this virus under control, and for no more than a political ploy to steal a governorship from the voters who put Governor Newsom in office. The good news is that we have faced these challenges before, we know the good work we are capable of doing.

Although it will take time and a continued effort from our leaders to get through these crises, we will return to a sense of normalcy once again with strong leadership and good decision making as Governor Newsom and his team have already shown capable of executing. Ignoring

From the Editor

these problems and instead being forced to deal with a completely unsuitable recall for Californians by Trumpbacked groups is a recipe for disaster.

The ploy to recall the governor is one of several democratically elected positions that Trump-backed groups have targeted to recall. From progressive district attorneys to city council members and from California delegates to local school board members, these recall groups insist upon wasting taxpayer dollars, costing Californians hundreds of millions of dollars, just to win political games.

These recalls are a waste of our money and are completely detrimental to overcoming the challenges we have at hand. Simply put, the recall effort of Governor Newsom and every Trump-backed recall effort will hurt Californians--not just our recovery from Covid but reproductive freedom, education funding, civil rights and other longtime conservative targets.

We have come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic, the early helplessness we all felt is finally transitioning to hopefulness. We cannot afford to forfeit all that we have worked for over petty political stunts. It is time to fight these recall efforts and ensure our leaders can focus on the issues that matter for the health, safety, and welfare of every Californian.

Women and people of color stand firmly behind Governor Newsom. We know that the health of our families, our neighborhoods and our rights depend on defeating the recall. We invite all readers to join us on September 14 -- or as soon as you get your mail-in ballot -- in voting NO on the recall.

Rep. Barbara Lee represents California’s 13th Congressional District including portions of Alameda and San Francisco counties in the United States House of Representatives.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Turn Up and Turn Out”

L.A. Focus/September 2021

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rom Hurricane Ida to the September 14 recall election, Delta’s ravaging of the unvaccinated and the death of 13 U.S. soldiers, this past month has been a whirlwind, and with all that’s going on it’s easy to be distracted from the real issues.

Now, I’m someone who believes that there is a time and place for recall elections, particularly in the case of elected officials breaking the law or falling way short of expectations, but now is not that time.

Governor Gavin Newsom has not broken any laws, nor has he done any less than he promised–which is to make the best decisions he could on those things that improve and impact the quality of life of Californians from the alleviation of poverty to a historic housing and homelessness funding package and major policy changes around criminal and juvenile justice reforms.

I must disclose that I was contracted to do faith outreach for the Gavin Newsom for Governor campaign and was engaged as a consultant for the Stop the Republican Recall of Gavin Newsom. That said, I’ve gotten to know Gavin Newsom over the last few years and have found him to be sincere in his efforts to act in the best interests of his constituents, whether they voted for him or not.

What’s more, he is determined in his efforts to keep them safe during a pandemic that has claimed the lives of more than 622,000 Americans. To be sure, it would be impossible for him to please everyone but what is clear is that he has made the tough decisions he believed would abate the COVID-19 pandemic–despite the protests of Republican anti-vaxxers, while also rebuilding our communities, economy and healthcare delivery system.

But what’s at stake in this election is really about democracy; about having a leader that the majority of Californians have agreed upon, and that will not happen if the Governor is recalled. Instead, all it will take for someone to be the next governor of California is getting the most votes, meaning that someone with just 10% of the vote–or less–could pull this election out. And that, say those like Supervisor Holly Mitchell, is tantamount to stealing an election one could never have won outright.

For those of you thinking about sitting out this election–or not even considering this as a “real election”, think again. This election has real implications that could impact your life.

If you are not happy with how Gavin Newsom has performed, you can say so when he runs for re-election next year. In the meantime, take this election seriously and cast your vote on September 14. The decision of whether or not Gavin Newsom remains as Governor will be determined by whether or not you turn out to vote.

For more on what’s at stake in this election, check out our story on page 10.

Speaking of elections, the fact that so many want to draft Congresswoman Karen Bass in the 2022 race to become L.A.’s next mayor is perhaps the truest testament to her qualifications; her track record; to the respect voters have for her and to the satisfaction of those she has represented in her more than 17 years in elected office. To that end I add to the collective chorus of “Run, Karen, Run”. For more on that story, see page 6.

Also, in this issue, the sixth installment in our series on domestic abuse that couldn’t be more timely given the

recent headlines surrounding the slaying of prominent Bank of America executive Michelle Avan, who was allegedly killed by a fellow bank executive she had dated.

Though seldom talked about in the circles of those who are successful, it remains a clear and present danger in our communities, particularly during a pandemic that has at times isolated us from each other.

It is just as clearly a reminder that we should pay closer attention to what’s going on in the lives of those close to us. So often, it’s easier to pretend that all is well.

Truth is, all of us have our issues and none of us can escape those times when things aren’t going well. Those times when a word or the ability to share what we’re going through can make all the difference.

In the words of Theodore Roosevelt, “Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care.”

So, if you have the power to make someone happy, do it. Be a vessel, be the change, be the difference, be the inspiration, be the light.

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

“Run Karen Run”: The Campaign to Make Congresswoman Karen Bass L.A.’s Next Mayor

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s the California recall race reaches fever pitch in the countdown to September 14, there is yet another political campaign that is gathering steam as what began as a behind-thescenes move to enlist Congresswoman Karen Bass in the 2022 mayoral race has gained momentum both in L.A. political circles and the media.

Leading the charge are black women’s democratic clubs that have launched online campaigns to draft the Congresswoman into the race, including the California Black Women’s Democratic Club which posted: “We believe the residents of Los Angeles would like to have a progressive option in the field of candidates. We also know that Bass is a solution-focused candidate who has a track record of solving complex problems.”

They were the same black women who rallied around Bass when she was eyed as a possible replacement for the senate seat vacated by Kamala Harris in a “keep the seat” campaign that included black leaders and women’s groups across the state and nation, but ultimately ended when Governor Gavin Newsom instead chose Alex Padilla.

Yet another campaign –dubbed “Run Karen Run”–from veteran political strategist Kerman Maddox of Dakota Communications and others–is asking business and community members to sign letters encouraging Bass to run while also gaging support on behalf of the 67-year old legislator.

“The arc of her journey has been really impressive and I’m excited about the groundswell of support she’s receiving, which is highly unusual for someone just rumored to be running,” Maddox said.

“The possible entrance of Bass, who has been one of the few politicians I can say didn’t do a Jekyll and Hyde after being sworn into office, has been the most welcomed news since Biden announced he’s sending Mayor Eric Garcetti to India”, Democratic political strategist Jasmyne Cannick wrote in a recent op-ed. “Who we elected is who we got with Bass, a compassionate, thoughtful and bold leader on important issues”.

City Councilmember Mark RidleyThomas is also among the many urging Bass to run having made the decision that he would not seek the post.

“If Karen Bass were to launch a campaign, she would be formidable, because of her experience at the federal level; because of her experience at the state level; because of her former experience as a health care professional; and because of gender. Those factors are really going to be important,” Ridley-Thomas said of the field of likely candidates that include City Attorney Mike Feuer, Councilmember Joe Buscaino and Kevin de Leon, City Council President Nury Martinez and billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso.

A recent poll bears witness to just how formidable a force Bass would be.

Conducted by FM3 Research, the survey of 803 people put Bass in the lead with 22% of the respondents indicating that they would vote for her.

The poll also indicated that Bass had the advantage of being the best known among the candidates and led with Black Angelenos and people on the Westside and South Los Angeles.

Fact is, Bass’ name had surfaced relative to the mayoral race even before Ridley-Thomas bowed out the race. Back in April, a spokesman remarked that though people had asked her to consider running, “she was not considering running for mayor at this time”.

Bass, who had been mum on the issue, was recently quoted in an interview with KPCC/LAist, that she was

LISA COLLINS Staff

“overwhelmed and humbled by people pushing me to do this, and I will say that I am seriously considering it.”

She is expected to announce her intentions later this month and if the answer is affirmative, will have nine months to fundraise and put together an effective campaign.

No one questions the qualifications of the L.A. native whose national profile rose with her chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus, her consideration as a vice presidential candidate

by Joe Biden and her current leadership in the legislative reckoning over race and police violence.

Observed Maddox, “Karen Bass is a uniquely talented elected official who has the ability to work with and connect with supporters and critics to get things done because everybody respects her and people really like her and in electoral politics likeability is priceless.

“As she was being vetted to be on the ticket as Joe Biden's Vice Presidential running mate,” Maddox continued, “people talked about her integrity, her accomplishments, her leadership skills and her career trajectory but the thing I heard more than anything throughout that process was her ability to bring people together because people trusted her and genuinely liked her.”

The six-term lawmaker, who founded the social justice non-profit, the Community Coalition–has since 2011– represented California’s 37th Congressional district, which stretches from Inglewood to Century City and includes Leimert Park, Culver City, MidCity, West Adams, Mar Vista, Westwood, Ladera Heights and University Park.

If elected, Bass would make history as the first woman to serve as L.A. mayor.

It wouldn’t be the first time Bass has made history. In 2008, she was elected to serve as the 67th Speaker of the California State Assembly, becoming the first African American woman in United States history to serve as a Speaker of a state legislative body.

Election watchers will be looking to see if the early buzz and name identification pay off at the polls. To avoid a November runoff, Bass would have to get more than 50% of the vote. The primary election is set for June 7, 2021.

L.A. City Council Adopts Antiracism Motion to Ensure Equity In an effort to address generational inequities that perpetuate racial disparities across city services, the Los Angeles City Council has unanimously voted to adopt an “Antiracism” motion, calling upon the Civil and Human Rights + Equity Department to produce a Racial Equity Audit of City programs, policies and practices; and to develop a plan that addresses barriers to economic stability, specifically among African Americans.

“As leaders of a city as diverse as Los Angeles, it is our responsibility to ensure the equitable distribution of city services and resources. But in order to do that, we must have the tools in place to effectively examine the ways in which we have unwittingly fallen short. Only when we are clear on our flaws, can we course-correct,” said Councilmember RidleyThomas, who introduced the motion

L.A. Focus/September 2021

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along with Councilmembers Curren Price and Marqueece HarrisDawson.

“We have reached a critical turning point and if we are ever to reconcile with the past wrongdoings done to the Black community and tackle race relations, it is our duty to push for measures that ensure there is a more equitable and fair distribution of services that addresses systemic inequities to erase color-lines,” said Councilman Curren Price. “We cannot sit back and watch history continue to repeat itself. We want to put an end to the cycle here and now.”

Capri Maddox, who serves as Executive Director of the city’s Civil + Human Rights and Equity Department,

also known as LA Civil Rights said her agency was grateful for the opportunity to support the initiative.

“Systemic racism didn’t come out of thin air - it came from centuries of policies that separated Black communities from their wealth, their health and their freedom,” Maddox said. “But just as our country designed a system of inequality, we can also build a future of inclusion and justice - and Los Angeles is showing the way.”

Mayor Eric Garcetti agreed.

“There is no question that work remains to close the racial gaps that exist in our country when it comes to wealth, health, and education,” Garcetti said.

“The motion builds on the equity work we’re doing in Los Angeles, and I’m proud to work alongside Councilmembers who are committed to confronting structural racism and fulfilling America’s promise to all its people.”

Governor Signs Bill to Speed Up Compensation for Student Athletes The effective date of the “Fair Pay to Play Act”– granting college athletes the right to compensation for their name, image, and likeness and allowing them to earn money from sponsorships, endorsement deals and other activities–has been moved up from January 1, 2023 to being effective as of September 1, 2021 having been passed by the California Senate and clearing the State Assembly last month and was signed into law

by Governor Gavin Newsom.

In 2019, California became the first state in the nation to give student athletes the right to compensation for their name, image, and likeness with the passage of SB 206. SB 26– authored by Senator Steven Bradford (DGardena) and Senator Nancy Skinner (DBerkeley), and co-authored by Senator Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita)– also extends that protection to include the California Community Colleges.

“As a former athlete, a longtime coach in my community, and author of the groundbreaking SB 206, I am pleased to see continued bipartisan support on the issue of fair compensation for college athletes,” said Senator Bradford.

“The state and nation are now in solid agreement that students who generate millions and millions of dollars for universities should not have to struggle to purchase books, food, and have a place to sleep while others benefit from their talent and hard work. SB 26 is about bringing fairness and justice to the matter of compensation for college athletes faster by ending the modern day chattel slavery of college athletes than what we thought was possible when we started this fight and making sure we protect the civil right of a person to own themselves.

Hate Crimes Rise in U.S. Spike, Highest in 12 Years

LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE

NNPA Newswire According to the FBI, the number of hate crimes in America rose 6 percent from the previous year in 2020. The increase was the highest level in 12 years. The main targets of hate crimes in the U.S. are Blacks and Asians.

The FBI reports that there were 7,759 hate crimes in 2020. That total was an increase of 6 percent from 2019 and the most since 2008.

Hate crime numbers have risen steadily over the last seven years.

The new numbers feature attacks targeting Black people. Hate crimes on Black people went up from 1,930 to 2,755 in 2020.

“These statistics show a rise in hate crimes committed against Black and AfricanAmericans, already the group most often victimized. Notably, they show a rise in hate crimes committed against members of the Asian-American Pacific Islander community.

This also confirms what we have seen and heard through our work and from our partners,” said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a statement on the report.

“Preventing and responding to hate crimes and hate incidents is one of the Justice Department’s highest priorities. The FBI Hate Crime Statistics for 2020 demonstrates the urgent need for a comprehensive response,” Garland added.

During the presidency of Donald Trump hate crimes rose. With a President who has mainstreamed the rhetoric of White nationalists, the groups have become more emboldened.

The FBI’s report on August 30 is one of several that has focused on rising hate crimes in the U.S.

UpFront City Council Votes to Move Community Build into the Afiba Center; Exec Director Says “It Ain’t Over Yet”

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he L.A. City Council has voted to approve a measure introduced by District 8 City Councilman Marqueece Harris Dawson to move Community Build into the AFIBA Center.

The move is the culmination of a longstanding battle between Harris-Dawson and Executive Director of “the Afiba Center”, Jabari Jumaane along with community members over the fate of the A.F.I.B.A. (African Fire Fighters Benevolent Association) Center, which has operated in a city-owned property on Crenshaw for more than 20 years, providing cultural programming and resources to the African-American community.

During the height of the coronavirus pandemic, Harris-Dawson’s office placed padlocks over the gates and evicted the Afiba Center. Dawson’s grounds for seizing the property was that the center did not allow the city access when requested.

Jumaane disagrees, adding that he believes he became a sore spot for HarrisDawson after he began to question the Councilman’s commitment to the Black community, especially the Destination Crenshaw project.

“His project Destination Crenshaw has come under a lot of scrutiny,” Jumaane expressed. “All of us like art, but if that’s all you are proposing, you need to put something in place that helps these young brothers and sisters own these commercial spaces.”

Destination Crenshaw declares the goal of the multi-million dollar project is to ensure the Black esthetic of the area

remains in the face of gentrification.

Jumaane feels the Councilman could ensure this, by putting the full force of his office behind making sure the people are not easily replaced from the community.

“He [Dawson] is good at photo-ops, showing up places and smiling, but they are selling you out on the back burner. It is time for somebody to be in that office who is going to stand up for our people,” Jumaane said. “If you can’t be bold and speak out now--when will you be able to?”

In recent months, a mediator was brought in and Jumaane was under the impression the Afiba Center was close to reaching an agreement with the Councilman’s office. At one point, calls and texts to the mediator went unanswered. When Jumaane was finally able to make contact, he was told the mediator had been sick.

The Councilman's office then authored a motion on June 2, suggesting the Afiba Center be leased to the non-profit, Community Build, at no-cost. The motion was seconded by recently elected City Councilwoman Nithya Raman.

This caused supporters of the Afiba Center to protest outside of Community Build’s current office in Leimert Park.

“Sausedo did not offer any ill words, he brought refreshments out and I let him know that although we had spoken, it was the community that said they wanted to come out,” Jumaane illustrated. “If people are speaking up for the institution, I am going to be speaking up with them.”

During a zoom call Jumaane says Sausedo had not yet committed to taking

over the space and shared that Community Build does not want to hurt their name by getting caught between the feud.

When reaching Community Build for comment, Sausedo made clear the space on Crenshaw which houses the Afiba Center, is not large enough in size to handle the operations of Community Build.

“We are not moving.

We have been asked to manage the building and programming,” Sausedo said.

Community Build was made aware of the ongoing dispute of the space by HarrisDawson’s office.

In a statement, Community Build responded, “The councilman made it clear that because of Community Build’s reputation with implementing processes and being systematic in our endeavors, he felt these strengths would bode well for achieving his vision for maximizing the use of the AFIBA Center by the entire community.”

According to Harris-Dawson’s office, the recent motion was to create a pathway for community groups, neighborhood councils and non-profit organizations to readily use the space every weekday of the year, free of cost.

“The building is for the community and any community group will be given the opportunity to use this public space for

TINA SAMEPAY Contributor

programming,” stated a spokesman for the Councilman.

Jumaane says Sausedo shared he has a plan of bringing 5,000 jobs to the area and that he was interested in the space still being called the Afiba Center. That is, if Community Build agrees to manage the space.

Still, Jumaane continues to fight back against what he calls an unlawful lockout that was denied to the councilman in a 2020 court order. He views the recent motion and actions on behalf of HarrisDawson's office as blatant disrespect, and an overall disregard for the decimation of Black cultural institutions in Los Angeles.

“Anyone can make a mistake, that’s what makes you human, but disrespect is intolerable,” Jumaane shared. “We are the only district with any real percentage of African culture. That’s what this district represents, and it’s being eroded...The struggle continues. It ain’t over yet.”

HeadToHead Differing Views on Advancing Diversity & Racial Justice

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arlier this Summer, turnover, low morale, less innovaLeading By President Biden issued a tion, increased legal risk, and lessExample — sweeping Executive Order, effective teams.

Biden’s Antiwhich advances diversity, equity, Without question, making federal Bias inclusion, and accessibility or service more accessible and fairer Executive “DEI&A” initiatives throughout to diverse groups is the right thing Order the federal government. With a to do; it is also better for our econostroke of the pen, Biden has positively my and our democracy. Fact is a diverse, impacted practically every area of federal inclusive, creative, and productive federal employment, including hiring policies, workforce best reflects the face of the training, leadership development, and nation at home and employee pay and benefits. abroad.

As leaders in the civil rights and busiWhether trying to ness community who prioritize DEI&A, we devise solutions to fix applaud the President for taking this next the housing crisis or step to address unconscious bias and ensure access to attract, develop, and support a federal broadband technoloworkforce that truly represents our nation. gy, it also ensures a By issuing the order, Biden is directing range of unique perDerrick Johnson each agency head to “…take steps to spectives is incorpoimplement or increase the availability and rated into innovative and public-focused use of diversity, equity, inclusion, and services and solutions the government proaccessibility training programs for employ- vides to the American people. ees, managers, and leadership.”

Similar conclusions can be made in the DEI&A initiatives and training make private sector. In 2017 Harvard Business governments, businesses, and organiza- Review/University of Chicago study estitions stronger. Surveys show that 67% of mated that corporate employee disengagejob seekers consider workplace diversity ment and alienation cost companies an important factor when considering between $450 and $550 billion per year. employment opportunities. Sixty-one per- That is why many corporate leaders priorcent of employees believe diversity and itize best-in-class, science-based anti-bias inclusion strategies are beneficial and training from the C-Suite to entry-level essential. If the federal government wants employees. to attract and retain the best talent, it If America is going to continue to lead needs DEI&A training and programs with the world by the power of our ideas, as all deliberate speed.

President Biden has said, we must go a Bias in policymaking–whether sys- step further and lead by the power of our temic or unconscious–has historically example. Our nation deserves nothing resulted in adverse outcomes for communi- less. ties of color and other marginalized groups. From immigration legislation to Derrick Johnson is President and CEO of healthcare policy to education, programs the NAACP and Michele Ruiz is Coneed to be designed and implemented with Founder and CEO of BiasSync an eye toward how they will affect all citizens, regardless of their race or economic circumstances.

According to the White House, overcoming bias in public policy around wages, housing credit, lending, and access to higher education could amount to an additional $5 trillion in gross domestic product in the American economy over the next five years.

Unconscious bias experts cite, and numerous studies demonstrate that not addressing unconscious bias leads to high

Headlines From Africa Burundi: The long-awaited trial for the murder of Thomas Sankara, who was assassinated in a coup that returned exiled former president Blaise Compaore to power, has been set for October 11. Compaore and 13 others were charged by a military tribunal in the death of Sankara, who had been dubbed by some as the “African Che Guevara”.

Congo: The UN Children's Fund has warned that a resurgence of Bubonic plague in Ituri province in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is putting children at risk. Poverty, conflict and displacement are contributing to the return of the centuries-old illness for the first time in more than a decade.

L.A. Focus/September 2021

Ethiopia: The United States imposed new sanctions over Ethiopia’s deadly Tigray conflict as hundreds of thousands of people face famine conditions under a government blockade the U.S. has called a “siege” and fighting spreads into other parts of the country.

Ivory Coast: The Ministry of Health confirmed the country's first cases of Ebola since 1994.

Ghana: Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has launched a multi-agency initiative designed to increase domestic revenue mobilization, broaden the tax net and ensure compliance with tax obligations. The initiative is envisioned as a major effort to block leakages and raise domestic revenue mobilization in order to address the economic challenges arising from the pandemic.

Liberia: The U.S. has warned Liberia that America and some of Liberia's major partners may withdraw their support to the energy sector if they fail to stop the widespread power theft that is crippling the sector.

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Kenya: The government has set aside $300 million to the National Safety Net Program, which offers finan-

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ccording to a new report According to research at the Corporate from The Washington Post, American Enterprise Institute, Social Justice America's corporations this collapse was driven by the Programs Don't have committed "at least" bursting of a highly inflated bubWork $49.5 billion to the cause of "racial ble in housing prices, the result of justice" since the George Floyd murder last widespread deterioration in lending stanyear riveted our national attention on race. dards driven by government affordable This amounts to a little over $1,100 for housing goals and mandates. Black citievery Black man, woman and child in A- zens, who these government programs merica, or from another perspective, about were designed to help, were disproportion$16,500 for every ately hurt when housing prices collapsed Black household earn- as a result of the plethora of bad loans. ing $25,000 or less.

The great mystery is why the principles But we're not talking that made and make our country great are about corporate Ame- nowhere to be found in the various ideas rica, despite their deep and programs being promoted with this concern for racial jus- vast sum of funds. tice, just simply giving Why have so many in corporate America black Americans cash. signed off on left-wing dogma that Star Parker As much as they American principles – principles of protecundoubtedly care about these Black citi- tion of life, of liberty, of property – are the zens, they would never trust them to just problem rather than the solution? take the money and spend properly.

A healthy portion of American Blacks These corporate executives nationwide are doing very well because of these have concluded that they can justify taking American principles. a huge chunk of their shareholders' funds Per the Census Bureau's recent annual – an amount equal to the entire economy report – Income and Poverty in the United of the state of Alaska – and spend it in a States, 2019 – a larger percentage of way that will produce more racial justice.

Black households, 29.4%, were earning It is reasonable to ask why they believe $75,000 or more than the percentage earnthey can achieve this. ing $25,000 or less, 28.7%.

It goes against all experience we have Those left behind need liberation from had with government. government control of their lives. Less govThe federal government has been ernment-created ghettos from federal spending trillions since the war on poverty housing programs, more freedom from failbegan in the 1960s – $20 trillion, by some ing schools and broken government entitleestimates – and the incidence of poverty ment programs such as Social Security. over these years has hardly budged.

I started promoting the idea 25 years Apparently, these corporate executives ago of releasing low-income earners from feel they have some insight that has eluded the Social Security payroll tax and allowpoliticians all these years. ing them to invest those funds in a personA large percentage of these funds is ear- al retirement account. Back then, the Dow marked for loans and investments in hous- Jones Industrial Average stood at 10,000. ing and business loans.

Today, it stands at 35,000.

According to the report, $28 billion The very naysayers I heard back then flows from a pledge by JPMorgan Chase to are the ones bleating today about unfairmove 40,000 families into home ownership ness and the wealth gap. over the next five years. But, again, special Rather than betraying the tradition of loans and grants to encourage minority free enterprise capitalism that built corpohome ownership are nothing new. rate America, America's corporations Government has been doing this for years, should be promoting these values. This is causing more damage than good. the path to more prosperity, more justice, Most should recall that we had a major for all Americans. financial crisis in our country in which we saw a collapse in financial markets in 2008 Star Parker is president of the Center for that was the worst since the Great Urban Renewal and Education. For more Depression. about Star Parker, visit www.creators.com.

A look at current news from the continent of Africa cial assistance to the elderly and needy in the country. Officials say the program—which covers 1.3 million households— demonstrates the nation’s commitment to reducing poverty as articulated in “Kenya Vision 2030”.

Nigeria: As the government has been unable to halt the troubling string of abductions for ransom, many schools have been forced to close due to the risk of kidnapping. More than 1,000 students have been forcibly taken from their schools according to the police. While most have been released, at least 200 are believed to be still held by their abductors.

Rwanda: Government officials announced plans to recruit 9,418 teachers for primary and secondary schools, as well as head teachers for the coming academic year. The initiative will also help get teachers for classrooms that have been built in order to reduce student congestion and reduce the ratio of students per teacher.

South Africa: South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has been forced to scale back its campaigning ahead of upcoming municipal elections because it has run short of cash. As it seeks to reclaim control of several major cities that it lost to the opposition five years ago it will lean more heavily on social media and door-to-door campaigning.

Uganda: The government has disclosed plans to enact a law that will regulate the way in which Ugandans use social media which will also punish persons who spread fake and illicit information.

Zimbabwe: The UN has condemned the practice of child marriage in Zimbabwe after a 14-year-old girl— who was allegedly forced out of school and into marriage at age 13— died while giving birth at a church shrine. Her death was only exposed after it was revealed the church was allegedly offering the teen’s nine-year-old sister as a replacement to her "husband." Outrage over the case has brought back into the spotlight the scourge of child marriages in the country, especially among indigenous religious sects.

Money Matters

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On the Money

Crenshaw Mall Sold, Activists Say Battle for Black Ownership Is Far From Over

n Friday, August 20th, time ran out on activists and community groups seeking to stop the sale of the Crenshaw Mall with word of its sale to the Beverly Hills-based, Harridge Development Group.

The news was met with anger and outrage by those seeking to have black ownership of what has long been considered as a cultural landmark, and who over the last year and a half have worked to thwart the deals of two previous developers who sought to acquire the 40-acre mall that includes retail and specialty shops, a cinema complex, museum, dining and an Albertson’s supermarket.

“We, the community, believe in our own self determinism,” said Pastor William Smart, President of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Los Angeles. “We want to determine who builds in our community. Late last Friday, the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Mall was quietly purchased by developer David Schwartzman, President and CEO of Harridge Development Group in a deal that included just five percent black ownership. How can that happen in our community in 2021?”

For Downtown Crenshaw co-founder Damien Goodmon, that answer is simple.

“The only reason corrupt and racist Schwartzman was able to buy our Black mall is because he was provided special treatment that Downtown Crenshaw was never afforded,” Goodmon said in a statement.

“Downtown Crenshaw did everything that was asked of us despite repeated gamesmanship by the public pension funds and Deutsche Bank/DWS. We outbid Harridge and submitted a fully-financed offer of $115 million with more favorable terms. We secured the backing of missionaligned financial partners, who want to see our community uplifted not uprooted. We engaged in a historic fundraising campaign where we raised $28 million in philanthropy in just two weeks.

City officials seem to be taking a hands off wait-and-see approach as the dust has hardly settled on plans for the property that straddles both the eighth and tenth districts, coupled by the fact that there are many approvals that have to take place before the actual development gets underway.

No immediate changes will be made to the property, according to a press release announcing the purchase.

“We have a long history of successful real estate devel-

New Car Prices Hit Record High

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opment in the City of Los Angeles, and look forward to working alongside community-based groups, neighborhood associations, civil rights organizations, merchants, neighboring property owners, businesses and local government leaders to implement a successful reinvigoration of the Property with the mall remaining as its center”, said Harridge CEO David Schwartzman.

A website featuring project updates is said to be in the works. In the meantime, those like Ayuko Babu, co-organizer of the Pan African Film Festival held annually at the mall, remain in the dark about the sale.

“I don’t really know what’s happening,” said Babu. “I believe that the mall should be in the hands of the community, but now that it’s been secretly sold, that may be an uphill battle.”

The battle, activists contend, is far from over.

“Purchasing the property is one thing, receiving community support to move forward is another matter and we are prepared to oppose the project moving forward,” Smart said.

“Ultimately, the sale of the Crenshaw Mall is far from final,” Goodmon stated. “It is going to be litigated in the courts and reviewed by oversight bodies. In addition to Downtown Crenshaw evaluating our many legal options, we are aware of at least four lawsuits that are currently being discussed by public pension fund members, civil rights organizations, and another qualified Black bidder that was passed over.

“With over 2,300 members and the support of over 300 community groups we have built a movement that will continue to fight for community control of our Crenshaw Mall.”

f you’re thinking about buying a new car, you might want to think again considering that as with everything else, costs are way up. In fact, the Kelley Blue Book reported in June 2021 that the average transaction price for a light vehicle in the United States was $42,258.

That’s up 6.4% ($2.527) from the year before and up 2.2% from just one month earlier.

Edmonds, an online resource for auto inventory and information, reported the average down payment on a $40,000 car last December as $4,734 with an average monthly payment of $581 at a 4.6 APR over 70 months.

That, of course, leaves the option of a used car, the sales for which at the close of 2020 averaged in the range of $27,000. Even wholesale prices for used cars sold at auction are up 26%.

Credit low stock and high demand for the record high sticker prices. Job losses and a record number of people working from home led a 30% decrease in auto sales last year with many dealerships closing or limiting services.

Ironically enough the demand for new cars is peaking as new car production was down the first quarter of 2021 while dealerships were getting back up to speed and supply was increasing.

It's a perfect storm," Charlie Chesbrough, senior economist for Cox Automotive told CNN Business. "If you're not willing to pay near sticker price, there's someone behind you who is. These issues will be with us through at least the rest of this year."

Meanwhile, here is Carfax’s list of the most affordable new cars of 2021: Chevrolet Spark $13,400 Mitsubishi Mirage $14,295 Nissan Versa $14,980 Hyundai Accent $15,395 Kia Rio $16,050 Kia Soul $17,490 Kia Forte $17,890 Subaru Impreza $18,795 Hyundai Veloster $18,900 Hyundai Venue $18,750

Biz News Briefs In what is one of her latest business ventures, Serena Williams tennis superstar Serena Williams inked a deal with Pacts With Zales for Zales Jewelers as the Jewelry Collection exclusive retailer for Serena Williams Jewelry.

Williams themed collection (“It’s Your Turn to Play) is comprised of designs that reflect her style and inspire self-confidence. The 60 distinct designs of rings, bracelets, necklaces and errings–priced from $129 to $9,999–comprise three sub-collections dubbed “Unstoppable”, “Believe to Be Great” and “Queen of the Court.”

“We are extremely excited to work with Serena Williams. She’s truly an inspiration and an icon,” said Jamie Singleton, president of Zales in a statement. “Each design embodies her striking yet playful style, and we are thrilled to bring Serena’s signature aesthetic to our customers, giving them another avenue to express themselves and connect with the energy that Serena emits.”

Williams also recently unveiled a collection of women's athleisure wear, streetwear and accessories, created by a group of 10 up-and-coming designers known as the Serena Williams Design Crew, or SWDC. The group is part of Nike’s “diversity in design" apprenticeship pro-

gram, which seeks to elevate designers of color who are underrepresented in the fashion design world.” Prices range from $20 for a pair of socks to $230 for a tennis tote bag.

Allyson Felix’s Next Frontier Allyson Felix, who last month became the most decorated woman in Olympic track–with a record 11 medals– recently announced a deal with Athleta for a fashion line that would include training gear. The products released in this include sweatshirts and pants along with tights centered around training. Earlier this year, she debuted her own brand called ‘Saysh’…Meanwhile, fellow Olympian, Sydney McLaughlin, who won the Olympic gold in the women’s 400m hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics and was Felix’s partner in the 4x400m hurdles race, has landed a collaboration with New Balance for a footwear and apparel collection.

McLaughlin says the line is a depiction of her own personal style.

The California Comeback Plan The California legislature recently passed the $100 billion California Comeback Plan and in it, there are billions of dollars in cash relief for small businesses. “As California businesses emerge from survival mode and embark on various stages of re-opening, now is

Felix

the time to develop strategies that can help companies get the jumpstart they need and grow in innovative ways,” said State Treasurer Fiona Ma. Designed to provide support for small businesses to recover from the pandemic. CalSavers, a free individual retirement account (IRA) for small business employers, can help small business owners rehire employees laid off due to the pandemic. The Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant fund, valued at more than $2 billion, has been providing grants of up to $25,000 to small businesses sand non-profits across the state.

California is home to 4.1 million small businesses, representing over 99% of all businesses in the state and employing nearly half of the state’s total workforce. About 1.2 million of them (29%) are minority-owned. Earlier this year, Gov. Newsom delivered immediate relief to small businesses, including a historic $6.2 billion tax cut for businesses -- the largest state small business tax cut in the history of the United States, according to the governor’s office.

Byron Allen’s Media Empire Adds Ten TV Stations Last month, Byron Allen’s media empire expanded to include ten local TV stations in midwestern markets in a deal valued at $380 million. AMG (Allen Media Group) will use the stations to populate content on Local Now, the company’s free streaming service with content, and help promote it locally. The acquisition marks more than $1 billion in investments by Allen's company in the last two years, raising AMG’s national profile to just under 5% of U.S. television households.

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L.A. Focus/September 2021

n support of the campaign to stop the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom, over 90 influential Black leaders in education, religion, politics and civil rights joined together for press conference, moderated by Lateefah Simon, a Bay Area-based women’s and civil rights activist.

Each voiced their support for the governor and shared why they intend to vote ‘no’ on the recall.

“We come together today as African American leaders because we understand the danger before us. We understand this is a right wing move and we’re not going to let it happen,” said U.S. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37). “We can’t get confused by Larry Elder. I don’t care what he looks like. We know Larry Elder very well in Los Angeles. He has built his career on attacking black leaders.”

Congresswoman Lee echoed Congresswoman Bass’ support for Newsom.

“We know that the health of our children, our neighbors and our communities depend on Governor Newsom’s leadership. He’s been there for us, and we will be there for him,” she said.

California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond shed light on unprecedented education spending Newsom helped make a reality in the state.

“Our governor has given our schools a $123-billion budget for education. A record budget. It includes funding for broadband, mental health, community schools, universal meals for all kids, universal pre-school for all 4-year-olds, COVID tests, PPE and anti-hate. We don’t recall governors who do good things for African Americans and for all people. We say ‘no’ to the recall.”

Malia Cohen, member of the California State Board of Equalization, called Black women to action, stressing that the recall election is especially urgent for women’s rights.

“If we lose Governor Newsom, we are losing our reproductive rights, we are losing our opportunity

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KISHA SMITH Staff

to have a champion that has been helping us fight the fight for child support and helping us lead the way for universal Pre-K. This is a human being that is an ally.”

“Governor Newsom has been there for us,” said San Francisco Mayor London Breed “He has been active and reached out to us on so many different levels and what I don’t want to do is to go backwards and stopped the progress we have been making.

“More importantly, Gavin Newsom has been an amazing supporter and friend to African Americans — not just in his capacity as governor but when he served here as mayor of San Francisco,” Breed continued.

Newsom, who joined the call, expressed his gratitude for the support from the group, while expressing his continued commitment and reiterating the plans he will continue to champion as governor, including putting women in positions of power, building on economic and workforce development strategies for minority communities, and reforming the public education system in California.

His most candid moment came during a brief question-and-answer session near the end of the meeting in responding to a question posed to him by California Democratic Party Black Caucus chair Taisha Brown about his agenda for Black Californians once the election is over.

“This is a point of passion for me. This is a point of pride that I didn’t just come to the issues of the African American community in the last six months since this recall became real,” Newsom said.

“This has been the cause a good part of my life... I look forward to continuing this work hopefully for many years to come when we defeat this recall.”

Leading the pack of those seeking to replace Newsom –elected with 62% of the vote in 2018– is conservative talk radio show host and political firebrand, Larry Elder.

Ballots were mailed out last month and are comprised of two parts. The first— and most important—will ask voters to vote yes or no to the recall. If more than 50% of those who vote, say no, Gavin Newsom remains as Governor.

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

This is a point of passion for me. This is a point of pride that I didn’t just come to the issues of the African American community in the last six months since this recall became real.

This has been the cause a good part of my life. I look forward to continuing this work hopefully for many years to come when we defeat this recall.

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Where They Stand On Key Issues

In the wake of a flurry of bills passed–around the nation to restrict voter access, California officials have worked to instead expand access to increase voter participation.

“To ensure that the outcome of the upcoming recall election reflects the will of the people, Californians have my commitment and that of the Attorney General to protect the right of every eligible voter – regardless of party – to cast their ballot,” said Weber.

To that end California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged Californians to review the following ten rights granted to California voters:

1

The right to vote if you are a registered voter. If you are a U.S. citizen, above the age of 18, residing in California, and registered to vote, then you have the right to cast your ballot. The exceptions are those who are convicted of a felony and currently in state or federal prison, or found mentally incompetent to vote by a court.

The right to vote if you are a registered voter even if your name is not on the list. Even if your name is not on the list, you will be allowed to vote using a provisional ballot and your vote will be counted if it is established that you are eligible to vote.

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Governor Gavin Newsom Education: Signed into law legislation giving a record $123.9 billion to California schools, to fund a new transitional kindergarten grade for 4-year-olds (to create a better education foundation); more opportunities for summer and after-school teaching; free school meals for all students; money for schools to hire more staff; and assistance for students who fell behind with remote learning over the past year.

COVID-19 Mandates: Enforced some of the nation’s toughest restrictions throughout the nation, becoming the first state to issue a lockdown. Recently implemented a first-in-the-nation standard to require all state workers and workers in health care and high-risk congregate settings to either show proof of full vaccination or be tested at least once per week and encouraged all local government and other employers to adopt a similar protocol. Also requiring health care settings to verify that workers are fully vaccinated or tested regularly. In March, signed a measure that included a $7.6 billion coronavirus relief package to send direct payments to low-income residents, while also including immediate relief for small businesses.

Crime: Co-sponsored a bill to end bail in California saying that it contributed to over-incarceration and placed a statewide moratorium on executions. Signed a number of bills into law initiating critical criminal justice, juvenile justice and policing reforms, including new limits on police use of force, ending the use of the carotid restraint and requiring the California Attorney General to conduct investigations into officer-involved shootings of unarmed individuals that result in death. Supported Prop 47 which downgraded a number of crimes from felonies to misdemeanors, which critics say has led to a spike in crime, particularly retail theft. Recently signed a bill that cracks down on organized shoplifting and retail theft Homelessness: Originally shelling out $1 billion for shelters and resources aimed at housing the unhoused, he reupped that in the 2021-22 budget to include $12 billion in aid to be spent over the next few years. He’s also provided funding to help the homeless apply for federal disability benefits. He also launched Projects Roomkey and Homekey during the pandemic to secure temporary shelter for 35,000, while funding 6,000 housing units.

Affordable Housing: While falling short on his pledge to provide 3.5 million new housing units by 2025, he added $10 billion to the budget this year to boost housing construction. He’s also forced cities to identify new sites for low-income housing, threatened to sue cities that fail to meet building targets and helped pass a law that bars cities from downzoning (changing the zoning of an area to reduce the density of housing.

Taxes: Proposed expanding the state’s earned income tax creditwhich can give households up to $2,559 per year, while raising the income level to qualify for the credit to $30,000. He’s also signed legislation that allow undocumented Californians to get the tax credit.

On Dianne Feinstein: In the event her seat becomes vacant–though the senator, 88, plans to serve out her full six years–the Governor has said he would nominate an African American woman.

Larry Elder Education: A proponent of school choice, Elder often refers to a crisis in urban education in this state, stating, “It’s near the bottom of all the 50 states, 75 percent of black boys cannot read at state levels of proficiency, 50 percent of third graders cannot read at state levels of proficiency.”

He would allow the money being spent on education go to the parent who would then have the option to choose a private, public, charter or religious school. “We have those options available for college and graduate school, why it’s a no-fly zone for K-12 is beyond me,” adds Elder who references polls showing that black and brown parents in the inner-city support school choice.”

COVID-19 Mandates: If elected, Elder has been clear on his desire to repeal mask mandates and vaccine mandates for state workers. “Protecting the public health is an utmost priority for the governor, but that duty should never be abused to trample on individual freedoms”, Elder has said. “I was vaccinated as soon as I had the chance (I happen to be in the age range that comes with greater risk of complications from the virus).

But it is the prerogative of parents to decide whether their children should be vaccinated, and the prerogative of every individual to decide whether he or she will be vaccinated.

Crime: Calling himself a true law and order candidate, Elder says he is committed to reversing cashless bail as well as the "ridiculous defund the police movement.”

“I will defend, not defund, the police,” said Elder, who believes anti-cop rhetoric has led to passive policing and subsequently rising crime. “We cannot have safe streets while demonizing the very people who risk their lives every single day to protect us.”

Adds Elder, “I will call for the repeal of the inane and devastating Proposition 47, which has given thugs free rein to calmly carry out whatever they want from any store, as long as the stolen goods are worth less than $950 per day.”

Homelessness: Elder would declare a state of emergency on homelessness and suspend the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) which he contends allows virtually anyone to stop any project for almost any reason given the environmental regulations which have led to higher home prices. He also believes that homes done by government or under government supervision — cost substantially more than they would if the private sector built them.

Affordable Housing: Elder says he would unleash the private sector to build homes for middle class people.

“Regulations and laws that benefit a select few have sent home prices soaring. I will repeal those perverse regulations”, Elder said.

Taxes: As governor, Elder says he would go to bat to reduce their tax burden Californians and businesses.

“More disposable income equals more spending money for ordinary citizens as we reopen our economy”.

On Dianne Feinstein: If Dianne Feinstein were to retire during his tenure as governor, Elder would have the power to replace the senior democrat with a Republican and break the 50/50 tie that currently exists in the U.S. Senate in favor of the GOP.

3

The right to vote if you are still in line when the polls close. If you arrived to join a line before polls close, then you are entitled to cast your ballot. Just do not get out of line.

4

The right to cast a secret ballot. Who you vote for is your business. And you have the right to maintain the privacy of your ballot without any harassment or intimidation from anyone trying to influence your vote.

Even if it’s a poll worker, don’t let anyone interfere with how you vote or persuade you that they need to observe you while voting.

5

The right to get a new ballot if you have made a mistake. If a mistake was made, and you have not already turned in your ballot, ask the election official at your polling place for a new ballot, exchange your mailin ballot for a new one at an elections office or polling place, or use a provisional ballot.

6 7

The right to get help casting your ballot. You have the right to ask for help, except from your employer or union representative.

The right to drop off your completed vote-by-mail ballot at any polling place. This can be at any polling site across the state.

8

The right to get election materials in a language other than English. There are state language access requirements for each county. If enough people in your precinct speak the language, then you have the right to ask for a ballot in that language. Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Filipino, Korean, Punjabi, Hmong, Syriac, Armenian, Persian, and Arabic are some of the languages covered in designated counties.

The right to ask questions to elections officials about election procedures. If you are unsure about how to proceed in order to cast your ballot, seek the help of an election officer present at your polling place. If that person cannot answer your question, then they must find you the right person to answer your question.

9

10

The right to report any illegal or fraudulent election activity. If you witness behavior that prevents you or anyone else from casting a ballot, report it to an elections official or the Secretary of State’s office.

Election day is every day leading up to Tuesday, September 14. You may return your vote-by-mail ballot at any time, including September 14 at any polling place. · Just drop it in the mail with pre-paid postage. · Make sure you are using a tamper free mailbox that does not appear damaged. · Make sure your signature on your ballot matches the one on your voter registration. If it doesn’t, your county election official will contact you to resolve the issue.

If you are in favor of Gov. Newsom remaining in office, vote “no” in response to the first question on the ballot: ‘Shall Gavin Newsome be recalled (removed) from the office of Governor?’

You do not need to answer the second question on the ballot if you would like him to stay in office.

If you are in favor of recalling Newsom, vote “yes” to the first question and choose the candidate you want to replace him on the second question.

You can also register the same day you vote in-person at a polling place or vote center on Tuesday, Sept.14.

HO L LY W OOD SPOT LIGHT Chez Hadley “Blood Brothers” For three pivotal years, Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X forged a brotherhood that would not only change both men but change the world. Blood Brothers: Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali tells the extraordinary story behind that friendship –and the ultimate falling out– of two of the most iconic figures of the 20th century.

In this new feature-length documentary from producer Kenya Barris, director Marcus A. Clarke offers a fresh perspective by using insider voices and never-before-seen footage to chart this most complex of friendships, tracing the near simultaneous and symbiotic rise of the charismatic and outspoken Olympic champion who

charmed the nation, and the ex-conturned intellectual revolutionary who railed against oppression.

Said Clarke, “Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali are two of the most iconic and revered African Americans of the twentieth century, and yet the

depths of their friendship and the influence they had on each other is largely unknown. Blood Brothers provides a deeper understanding into what made these two men tick, the intense role faith played in their bond and ultimately how their budding friendship came to an abrupt end.”

The documentary –inspired by the book “Blood Brothers” written by Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith– features interviews with Malcolm X's daughter, Ilyasah Shabazz, Ali's brother, Rahman, and his daughters, Maryum and Hana along with Cornel West and Al Sharpton.

Blood Brothers premieres Sept. 9 on Netflix.

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

The Card Counter September 10

The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain • September 17

The Queens Are Coming to ABC: Life may somewhat

L.A. Focus/September 2021

imitate art in ABC’s new series about four 40-plus women who were once part of a 90’s hip-hop group with the October 19 premiere of Queens starring Eve, Brandy, Naturi Naughton and actress Nadine Velazquez. The musical series focuses on the women trying to jumpstart their career after a lengthy hiatus from the business to the doldrums of everyday life.

The key to its success, says Eve, will be a focus on authenticity. “We just want to be as authentic as we should be,” Eve said. “We’ve lived that time and we come from that time, so it was something that was important to us. There will be moments from then like when people are listening to the music and they see our outfits, our hair, everything– we want them to be taken back to that time.

“In the series, the 42year old rapper Eve turned

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Queenpins September 17

actress rediscovers her hip-hop roots along with the magic the fictional girl group created in their heyday. The music (with Swizz Beatz as the series musical exec producer) is said to be great enough to put them back on the charts for real and will quite possibly land them on the charts. “I am actually hoping that this will be a great way to dip my toes and my whole body back into music without having the actual pressure of an album,” Eve adds.

On the Subject of Black Queens Jada Pinkett is set to exec produce a docu-series about African Queens that has received a two season order from Netflix. Each season will key in on a different queen, kicking off with Cleopatra. Season two will highlight Njinga, the fearless 17th century warrior queen of Matamba and Ndongo, in modern day Angola, known for her blend of political and diplomatic skill with military prowess.

“As the mother of a young Black woman, it is immensely important to me that she learns the lessons of the African Queens who paved the way for our success and the success of generations of Black women,” said Pinkett Smith. “I am very passionate and excited about bringing the stories and lessons of these powerful women to light in order to showcase their strength, leadership, and undeniable influence on history.”

Pinkett just wrapped production on The Matrix 4, which is scheduled for release this December.

Wonder Years in Black Later this month (September 22), ABC will debut its long-awaited revival of “The Wonder Years”, this time centering on a Black middle class family in Montgomery, Alabama in the late ‘60s. Elisha “E.J.” Williams stars as Dean Williams, the 12-year old boy

Infinite September 24

whose coming of age story is the backdrop of the series narrated by Don Cheadle and also starring Dule Hill and Saycon Sengbloh as his parents.

Given its timing toward the tail end of the civil rights movement, the series will touch on some key historical moments, including the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Said Hill, “As tragic as Dr. King’s passing there’s still so much tragedy that’s gone on between now and then that’s still happening right now. That’s what’s been interesting to me about exploring this time period: if you see the trauma and you see the hurt, you also see the strength of the people from that time and you reflect on where we are now and you see that same strength, that same power, and the same fortitude to press forward that has always been there for people who look like me.”

Steve Harvey to Star in New Courtroom Comedy ABC has greenlit a 10-episode order for a courtroom comedy series with the working title, Judge Steve Harvey.

The series–with Harvey appearing as judge, jury and star, will highlight a variety of conflicts and characters ranging from small claims cases to larger disputes with the comedian ruling out of his own life experiences and common sense. Casting is currently underway for the one hour show that is slated to bow on the network in 2022…

In other TV news, Kevin Hart has signed on as one or four new guest sharks on the 13th season of “Shark Tank”.

Family Matters: Zoe Kravitz is officially a single woman now that the divorce of her 18-month marriage to Karl Glusman has been finalized. The actress who filed for divorce just two days before last Christmas is now romantically linked to Channing Tatum.

Q&A

Marlon Wayans Hometown: New York, NY Age: 49 Big Break: In Living Color Marlon Wayans is an actor, producer, comedian, writer and the youngest of ten talented sibblings. His films have grossed over $1-billion globally and include “White Chicks”, “Scary Movie”, “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”, “Fifty Shades of Black” and “Sextuplets”.

Wayans starred with his brother Shawn on “The Wayans Bros”, which was the WB’s highest rated comedy and now airs in syndication. He currently stars in the Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect, opposite Jennifer Hudson. His standup special, Marlon Wayans: You Know What It Is, premiered on HBO Max last month.

On playing Ted White, Aretha Franklin’s first abusive husband, in Respect: “It was a lot of soul searching because we are so different,” said Marlon. “I’m not an abusive man. I’m not a jealous man. I’ve been loved by my parents, my brothers, and my sisters. I really don’t come from that world. So I had to create and imagine, and really understand why someone would hit a woman they love.

And that’s because damage people damage people. He was insecure, and he was trying to be the man again.

I thought it was a chance to play someone sexy, dangerous, damaged, insecure. It's a different look for me.

On his own treatment of women: “I have always been a respectful and protective man when it comes to my sisters, even my real sisters. I took care of my momma until her last breath. Any woman that has seen me with my momma said, ‘I need to be with him.’ I pick up my momma up, I grab her by the hand, put her in the car, get her out the car, take her to eat, read the menu for her because she couldn’t see good, order her food, wipe her mouth when we were done, pay the check, walk her to the house, grab her mail, kiss her forehead, and wait for her to go on her balcony and wave at me before I pulled off. So, you’re talking about a person that has nothing but love and it always starts with your momma, your first love.”

On the mantra he lives by: The most important thing in your world is everyone else but you ... but take care of you so you can take care of others.

On work ethic: Proud to be doing my best work and the harder I work, the better I get. My mentality is “I’m never there”... always working to get there.

On Maturing: When I first started, it was about being cutting edge; crazy, offensive comedy. I was trying to make people laugh in their gut in a way that they haven't laughed since they were 14 years old. Over time, you mature.

You find that story, the thing that you're more attracted to. Not the jokes. I want to be like the greats–the Robin Williams, Jim Carreys, Eddie Murphys of the world–who are very strong comedic talents, but man, when they act, they act.

On a possible sequel to his 2004 hit film, “White Chicks”?

“I think White Chicks 2 is necessary. I think we’ve tightened up so much that we need to loosen our ties a bit and laugh a little bit. I don’t think Hollywood understands what a juggernaut White Chicks 2 would be. The world just keeps giving us more. White Chicks 2 is writing itself.

RedCarpet Style

JENNIFER HUDSON dazzled in this purple sequins Dolce & Gabbana gown

AUDRA MCDONALD sported this taupe tea length dress

Red carpets are back, or should we say, black carpet for the premiere of “Respect” last month in Westwood where the styles ranged from casual chic to runway glam.

SAYCON SENGBLOH turned heads in this flower-patterned dress

JORDIN SPARKS showed off her curves in this black print mini

KIMBERLY SCOTT brought cultural flair with this African Pattern maxi

Eye On Gospel CeCe Winans & Kirk Franklin Among Top Dove Award Nominees Last month, the Gospel Music Association announced nominations for the 52nd annual GMA Dove Awards and among the top nominees were CeCe Winans with five nominations–including “Gospel Artist of the Year” and “Contemporary Gospel Song of the year”–and Kirk Franklin with four–including “Gospel Artist of the year” and “Song of the year”.

Winans was nomined for her latest CD, Believe For It, which occupied the #1 slot for seven consecutive weeks on the Billboard Gospel charts for best album, while the single, “Never Lost” made its way to the #1 spot at Gospel Radio.

Said Winans, “I’m thankful that the God of the universe gives us a voice to Praise Him. My prayer is that the success of “NEVER LOST” only brings honor and Glory to our Lord!”

Winans and Franklin will face some pretty stiff competition in the category of “Gospel Artist of the year” from fellow nominees Jonathan McReynolds, Travis Greene and Tasha Cobbs Leonard.

Other multiple nominees included Lecrae, Travis Greene, Jonathan Nelson and Marvin Sapp.

“We are thrilled to welcome back an in-person Dove Awards this year and equally excited about our impressive list of nominees,” GMA president Jackie Patillo said in a statement. “As we continue to celebrate the immense creativity and diversity within our community, we’re looking forward to an awards program this year’s nominees deserve.”

The two-hour broadcast of the GMA Dove Awards will be held in Nashville on October 19 and aired on TBN on Friday, October 22.

A partial list of nominees is included beloe: Traditional Gospel Album of the Year: Jekalyn Carr–Changing Your Story Ricky Dillard–Choirmaster Marvin Sapp–Chosen Vessel Jonathan Nelson–Reunion

Fisk Jubilee Singers–Celebrating Fisk (The 150th Anniversary Album) Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year: PJ Morton–Gospel According to PJ Koryn Hawthorne–I Am Brian Courtney Wilson–Still Mali Music–The Book of Mali DOE–DOE Gospel Worship Album of the Year: CeCe Winans–Believe For It All Nations Music–Come Alive Rich Tolbert Jr.– Never Be Defeated Kelontae Gavin–The N.O.W. Experience Various Artists–Vashawn Mitchell Presents Africa Worship Contemporary Gospel Song of the Year Pastor Mike Jr–I Got It Dante Bowe–Joyful CeCe Winans–Never Lost Koryn Hawthorne–Speak To Me Tamela Mann–Touch From You Traditional Gospel Song of the Year Jekalyn Carr–Changing Your Story Anthony Brown & Group Therapy–Help Maranda Curtis–I Made It P.J. Morton, featuring J. Moss–Repay You Melvin Crispel III–Wonderful Is Your Name

Forward City, the church he and his wife, Dr. Jackie Greene, co-founded and co-pastor in Columbia, SC to reach the churched and unchurched everywhere.

L.A.’s Own Jason McGee & The Choir Celebrate “Power” Following an astounding debut on Space Jam 2’s movie soundtrack and recent Stellar Award nomination for “Contemporary Choir of the Year”; L.A.-based gospel artist, Jason McGee & The Choir are celebrating the release of their new album, Power.

“This project was designed to reach the hearts of our listeners with hope. After such a turbulent year, we’ve all shared common experiences that have brought us to a crossroad. We want to encourage people that they can find joy in believing again”, said McGee., who is one of the gospel music industry’s leading choir directors.

Produced by Gerald Haddon and Marcus Hodge, the album–featuring guest vocalist Lisa Knowles-Smith on the lead single, “It’s Not Over”, marks the first full length release on Warryn Campbell’s My Block label.

Finally, on a sad note, the gospel community is paying tribute to Lee Williams—founder of the award-winning Lee Williams and the Spiritual QC's– who passed last month. He was 75.

Travis Greene’s Oil & Water Five-time Grammy nominated gospel hit maker Travis Greene is joined by an all-star lineup of guest vocalists– including Anthony Hamilton, Tasha Cobbs Leonard, Kierra Sheard, Todd Dulaney, Mali Music, Le’Andria Johnson, Kirk Franklin and John P. Kee–on his latest album, titled Oil + Water.

The idea behind the album was to highlight God’s use of oil and water as a reminder of Him as the source to supply anything and everything believers need, beyond even what can be imagined.

Greene recently marked the five-year anniversary of

Jason McGee

SpecialReport “The First Cut Is The Deepest”— Domestic Violence & the Strong Black Women Stereotype

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or all of the progress made in messaging and legislating against domestic violence, many still believe there are instances where a man is justified in hitting a woman.

An estimated 8,300,000 Californians will experience physical violence, rape and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetimes, according to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey in 2010. More recent national figures put the number closer to 1 in 3 and the isolation that has come with the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an explosion of cases.

In the Black community, the numbers are even more staggering, with Black women being murdered by men at almost three times the rate as white women in 2018. Some experts classify violence as “entrenched in Black culture” and tied ironically enough to the strong Black woman stereotype.

Dr. Cathia Walters, a licensed clinical psychologist, says, “Violence is entrenched in the Black culture because it’s rooted in history. From enslavement to emancipation to our struggle for civil rights, all this violence was there. With all the injustices the framework was laid. So, with the violence we see today, we have to acknowledge the system of dehumanizing a group of people and we have to understand that a foundation of inequity is the root.”

Dr. Walters explains that historically the strong Black woman is described as

the protector, keeper of secrets, even at one’s own detriment. “She is that woman that puts others first, the matriarch, the one that guides. And all this plays into the violence against black women”.

In the 50s and 60s, he pointed out, Black men and women worked together, and Black communities were thriving.

Then the whites came in and started breaking down communities. Black men were no longer able to work or were doing menial jobs and no longer became the bread winner of their families. Where white men were able to provide for their households letting their women stay home.

Black men lost that role.

As Black men were emasculated many became depressed and we start to see the rise of the black women taking over as head of the household, because it’s about survival. Men often feel intimidated by this and felt the need to take their power back, sometimes through violence.

Dr. Aleese Moore-Orbih, incoming

director of the California Partnership to End Domestic Violence says, “In a system that has traditionally tried to kill people of color who are brought up with generations of disempowerment. When things are out of control most of the time, you attempt to control it with violence. For Black and Brown men, masculinity is determined by power. They have spent a lifetime trying to prove their power to their communities.”

Activist Feminista Jones wrote in an essay for Time magazine. “For Black women, a strong sense of cultural affinity and loyalty to community and race renders many of us silent, so our stories often go untold. One of the biggest related impediments is our hesitation in trusting the police or the justice system. As Black people, we don’t always feel comfortable surrendering ‘our own’ to the police.”

In fact, Black women are often reluctant to call the police because of the past injustices they have witnessed or experienced and to make matters worse, Black women are also routinely arrested when trying to defend themselves against an abusive partner.

Tina Rodriguez, a domestic violence activist with Community Action Partnership of Madera County says, “It’s been hard for Black women during COVID. I’ve talked to my Black sisters and they’ve said that they are stuck at home and afraid to call the cops because they don’t want them to kill their partner and the kids be left without a father.”

Rodriguez also shares that there is an

CHEZ HADLEY Contributor

automatic effort to identify black women as criminals even in death, “Black women that are killed by their partners are given background checks before their loved ones are notified of their death. Sending the perception that somehow they were responsible for their own death.”

Dr. Walters teaches how we move away from “strong” Black woman to “whole” Black woman “by putting ourselves first.

She says, “It’s about selfcare and establishing healthy boundaries. Have compassion for yourself. By loving yourself you can teach others how to love you.”

But, Jackson Katz, an anti-sexism educator says, “Domestic violence is a men’s issue not a women’s issue.”

In his “Ted Talk: Violence Against Women — It’s a Man’s Issue”, Katz asks, what’s going on with men?

“Ending domestic violence” he continues, “begins in the locker room and around the poker table, with men stepping up to say,” Hey, I don’t like that kind of talk” when they hear women being demeaned Katz says.

“It’s the culture that needs to change.”

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

GameChanger Judge Songhai Armstead’s Mission to Provide Alternatives to Incarceration

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n March 2020, the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to establish a new office to develop and implement the County’s new call for a “care first, jails last” system that would provide treatment and services instead of incarceration, whenever appropriate and possible. As a result, the county is now poised to address the disproportionate impact of racial injustice through community-based investments in youth development, job training, supportive housing services and meaningful alternatives to incarceration.

Leading the county’s shift is Retired Judge S o n g h a i Armstead, who stepped down from the bench late last year to be the founding Executive Director of the Alternatives to Incarceration Office. Part of her job is to create a n d implement new

strategies and programs, and part is to fix an existing, broken system. That means doing the following for those who have or may touch the justice system: coordinating mental health treatment for those in need, helping house the homeless, intercepting people before they enter the justice system and divert them to care and treatment?

And, while she’s at it, can she end mass incarceration?

It’s a tall order. But if anyone has the experience, know-how and stature to see it through, Judge Armstead does.

“We have to do this. Too many lives are hanging in the balance,” she said. “The great thing is I’m certainly not doing this work alone. One of my roles is to bring all parties to the table. That includes District Attorney George Gascon, Public Defender Ricardo Garcia; LA Police Chief Michael Moore, City Attorney Mike Feuer and Sheriff Alex Villanueva, among others. It means working with the County’s mental health department and other agencies within the L.A. County family.

Equally important, Judge Armstead says, are the community-based organizations, social justice advocates and committed residents whose work has paved the way for the County to embrace systemic reform.

“Judge Armstead is unrelenting in her vision of social justice and system transformation in this County. Her commitment to this vision comes from a passion for making people’s lives better - for making them whole,” said Herb Hatanaka, executive director of Special Service for

Groups, one of the County’s most experienced and trusted service providers. “She has been a real partner for the advocate community because she brings not only her understanding of the system due to her experience as a judge, but she’s someone with a lived experience.”

Her most important ally?

“I totally believe Jesus is my Lord and Savior. I know that anyone who created me has to understand me, and I bring my full self, my imperfections and aspirations and everything I am to that relationship.”

It is a calling inspired by her own life experiences.

As a child, Armstead attended 12 different schools in 11 years and spent time in the foster system, including a stint at McLaren Hall. She knows how substance abuse and mental health issues affect communities – and that the County’s safety net is a vital resource. A gifted student, she excelled in math and science. She is also dyslexic and struggled with reading and writing even as she performed well in advanced placement classes. Armstead dropped out of high school at age 15, took the California High School Proficiency Exam, earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and then her J.D. as one of only five black students at UCLA School of Law – where she was student body president.

“Everything I’ve known and been exposed to is for some greater good,” she said. “My life has been saved a thousand times, but I know what it feels like to be underwater and needing somebody, any-

body to help you catch your breath.”

First as a prosecutor and then as a Los Angeles Superior Court Judge, she saw first-hand how racially unjust and systematically unfair the criminal justice system could be. She saw the over incarceration of Black and Brown people. She saw poverty criminalized, mentally ill people caged in jail, and veterans, who often suffered a combination of trauma-induced mental health issues, homelessness and poverty, cycling through the justice system.

As a consequence, she initiated the City's Veterans' Alternative Legal Options and Resources (VALOR) and Homeless Alternatives to Living on the street (HALO) programs and also ran the Los Angeles County Homeless Court program and the City’s Dispute Resolution Program (RDP). While on the bench, in addition to her regular court calendar, she held specialized mental health, gang diversion, regional center, and veteran court days, focusing on getting people the treatment, housing and resources they need to improve their lives and break the cycle of incarceration.”

She has been deemed far left by those who prefer a “Lock ‘em up” approach and too far to the center by those who advocate the complete abolition of jails and prisons.

“People need as many opportunities out of the justice system as possible, and at whatever point a person wants help, we need to be ready and able to catch them.

“Success means that in the next three to five years we will have 10 triage centers continued to page 20

ChurchNews

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

From The Pit to the Pulpit: Carson Pastor Relays

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Harrowing Story in New Book

L.A. Focus/September 2021

arson-based pastor Walter R. Tucker III can’t stop talking about the response he’s getting for his second book, "From The Pit To The Pulpit: My Story For His Glory," which was published in June and details the fall from grace of the former Princeton University educated, U.S. Congressmanturned-pastor who served 18 months in prison. From the letters of those who’ve read the book to requests for him to speak or interviews, it is clear that his story of redemption–a follow up his first book, "From Compton To Congress: His Grace For My Race," –is resonating with readers.

Said Tucker, “I thought the first book was wellreceived, but this book is blowing me away in terms of the feedback and responses from people because it’s very personal. Here I was: well educated, a Congressman, a former mayor and to go prison. It was the worst imaginable thing that ever happened in my life. Up to that point I could never have imagined I would go to prison. It was such a dramatic experience that it just grabs people.

They want to know how I survived it.”

His first book ended with his 1996 conviction for extortion and tax evasion. In what is his second autobiographical installment, "From the Pit to The Pulpit: My Story For His Glory," Tucker takes a deeper dive into his Christian testimony recalling the day when he surrenders himself to begin his prison sentence for bribery at the Federal Prison Camp at Lompoc, California. He is both devastated to be separated from his wife and children and fearful of what awaits him inside the prison gates.

The book goes on to relate how his irrepressible faith sustained him through some of the darkest days of his life in graphic detail.

“Prison was my best/worst experience,” Tucker states. “It’s not something I wanted to happen or would want to go through it again, but this happened for a reason. I didn’t like it, but because I embraced it, I didn’t get bitter, I got better.

“I had to take responsibility and although to this day I know that I was entrapped and set up, it doesn’t excuse the fact that I took the money.

The big takeaway for Tucker is that it was the birthing of the man he is now.

“The character I have now, the passion I have now to help people and to glorify God– everything was formulated there in a place I couldn’t escape. Prison was the big set up for God to bless me up to do what he wanted me to do.”

There was also an irony Tucker couldn’t escape.

“I got into politics to carry on my father’s legacy who died of cancer while he was in office,” Tucker recounts. “It was so poignant that I could think of nothing else but to run for his seat. Even though I felt my destiny was to fulfill his political legacy, what I came to understand was that it was really to fulfill his spiritual legacy. He had wanted to quit politics and go into ministry.

“Before I went in on the day on the conviction, they asked me what I was going to do and I said I was going to do full time ministry and I guessed it would be prison ministry.”

It was a vision he has indeed fulfilled from working with Apostle Fred Price’s Helps Ministry upon his release in 1998 to Chuck Colson’s From the Heart Ministry and in 2012, founding the Truth and L o v e

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Christian Church where he says, “we teach the truth and show the love in Carson”.

Says Tucker, “It was kind of a modern-day Job experience. Losing our money, property and everything else, it speaks to the kind of faith we had to have and fortitude. Then, after all that, God has elevated us, helped us to start this church and we’ve been able to be a blessing to so many people. And,” he adds, “after 36 years, my wife and I are still in love.”

Prayers for Jesse Jackson Americans around the country are sending prayers to the family of the famed Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. The 79year old civil rights icon and his 77-year old wife of nearly 60 years, Jacqueline, were hospitalized with COVID19. While Jackson–who has Parkinson’s disease– had been vaccinated in January and is being treated for a breakthrough infection, his wife had not been vaccinated due to a pre-existing condition.

“Let us all pray for Rev. and Mrs. Jesse Jackson,” the Rev. Al Sharpton tweeted. “They need our sincere and intense prayers. Prayer changes things!!!

“Praying for Rev. Jesse Jackson and Jacqueline Jackson,” wrote Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Earlier this month @RevJJackson stood with our movement outside the Capitol to extend the eviction moratorium,” posted Congresswoman Cori Bush. “Our movement now stands with him and his wife, Jacqueline, as they recover from COVID-19. Our prayers are with them both for a speedy and full recovery”.

And from Senator Bernie Sanders, came this tweet, “The Rev. Jesse Jackson has been one of the great leaders of our time in the fight for racial, social and economic justice. Jane and I and all Americans wish them a speedy and full recovery.”

In the most recent update, the civil rights icon has been moved to a rehab facility as his COVID symptoms have been abated. His wife, Jacqueline, however, was moved to the ICU. “Both of our parents are continuing to receive excellent medical care,” Jonathan Jackson, said in a statement. “We urge that you continue to keep them in your prayers because we know this is a serious disease.

“We continue to receive the love that is being poured out to our family from around the world and it is greatly appreciated, as we express our love and concern for the millions of people who have been victimized by the COVID-19 virus and its variants.”

Darrell Wesley Takes Helm at Phillips Temple CME Last month, Darrell Westley took over as senior pastor of Phillips Temple CME. Wesley–who had served six years at Amos Temple CME in Riverside–was appointed to the post by CME Ninth District Presiding Prelate Bishop Paul A. G. Stewart.

“It’s the first church…one of the most prestigious churches in the ninth district, so getting the church was certainly an honor for me,” says the Yale University Divinity School graduate who served 24 years as an active-duty Navy Chaplain and is a member of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Inc. The 114-year old church has long been known as the flagship church of the ninth Episcopal District, which includes California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona and Alaska, but had suffered declining membership over the last decade with shifting demographics.

“My goal is to grow the church and increase its visibility within the community,” the Chattanooga, Tennessee native stated. “They’ve had very little visibility as of late, so the first order of business is to create an online and virtual presence. At the same time, to do more outreach to reach youth.

“You can’t underestimate the value of being visible in the community as well,” he added.

Dubbed by some as a preacher’s preacher, Wesley is both a scholar and an academic.

“That’s what’s given me an edge with younger, educated people. You hear it in my preaching, and you hear it in my teaching.”

Wesley’s plan is simple.

“I hope to see the church grow in numbers and membership and be an asset in the community.”

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

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

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252# Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Pastor Frederick K. Price, Jr. Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:30pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:30pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:30pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:30pm

God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ / Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles,CA 90056 (323)293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org• gfdjc@att.net Ruby Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor & Teacher Prophetess June Morgan / Assistant Pastor

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

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

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

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

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

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

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

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

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

McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @ 12:30pm/ Wed @6:00pm Zoom Call Into: (605) 472-5454/Access:188857 Online Services Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

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

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

FIRST LADY FILES

KAREN A. BROWN Contributor

Shonta Hilton Brister Memorial Baptist Church

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ritten like a true love story, unfolding with her having met, dated and eventually marrying her high school sweetheart now turned husband, Bishop Jawane Hilton–Pastor of the Bristol Memorial Church of Compton, California–not long after college.

Growing up in the church where her father pastored in Compton, First Lady Shonta Hilton never thought that she would marry a pastor. She was fully involved in the service and sacrifice of that of her family as most pastoral families do when God calls them.

“I was going to church at least two or three times a week,” Hilton said. “I was in the choir, going to Sunday School, evening services and the whole nine.”

With a deep commitment to her husband, her family, and her church, Lady Shonta currently sings in the choir and the praise team each Sunday morning. She is passionate about leading the women’s ministry as she seeks “To help cultivate and facilitate activities. This is something that I love and find rewarding”, said Lady Shonta.

The mother of three young girls, Lady Shonta has her hands full. Along with the work she does for her church, she also works full-time in the corporate marketplace, is very active in her sorority and enjoys spending time with her friends. “It’s important that you have that “me” time, family time and that can sometimes be a challenge.

However, my greatest blessing is to have my family, and my church family who are supportive”, she said.

Hilton regards her mother as her role model and spiritual example, having been a first lady for many years. With that knowledge in her tool belt, she freely shares from her own life and experience to remind First Ladies to be their authentic self.

“Every church is different so find out how you can fulfill the need at your church,” said Hilton.

First and foremost, she adds, “I believe the role of the First Lady is to be the help-meet of your husband, that’s your ministry.”

Photo credit: Courtney Lindberg

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 • www.newantiochcogic.org Superintendent Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Worship: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed on Facebook and You Tube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

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

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

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

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube channel: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Facebook/Website:trinitybaptistchurchofla.org SundayRadio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Zoom Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7:00pm Sign in to zoom.us click on “join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. By phone call 1-699-900-6833 give zoom ID. Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

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

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm) Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com

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

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

In Gardena

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

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Pastor Wendy Howlett Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church)

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

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

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

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

Pastor Profile: Frederick Howard Church: Southside Bethel Baptist Church How Long at Church: 25 years Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Wife Carol, three adult children How did you get into ministry?

I was called into ministry right before I graduated high school. I didn't accept my calling until 1986. I was trying to run away from it and go into the service, but while I was running track in high school, the coach fired the starting pistol off just near my ear. So, once I graduated and as I went through the process of being processed into the service, I was told that with the type of surgery I had on my ear, I wouldn't be able to enlist for another year.

And I was like, okay, Lord, I'm yours.

L.A. Focus/September 2021

Did you come from a religious background?

Absolutely. Every Sunday in church. My grandfather, who was a sharecropper in Georgia, was called to pastor here in California. At the time, they called it Evangelistic B a p t i s t church, and it was located on H o l m e s A v e n u e w h e r e Martin

18

Luther King Hospital now sits. That was where the Palm lane projects were. That's where that church was located in 1947.

So, your grandfather started the church?

Yes. How did you come to pastor the church your grandfather started?

My grandfather pastored over 30 years. He handed it down to my uncle by marriage, Reverend Allen O Simmons and after he passed, I became pastor.

Growing up as a kid, what did you think of the ministry?

I was the nerd in school– always labeled as the one who was going to be a preacher.

What was the big picture for you getting into the ministry?

My biggest mandate or purpose was just to preach. That was my calling–breaking the bonds of generational curses because I grew up in an era where people lived with skeletons in their closets and those skeletons stayed in the closet which kept many people in bondage. My goal in ministry was: ‘whether or not your life was a life of Saul or whether you're not life was the life of Paul, either way there is that Damascus experience with God that allows one to be freed of whatever bondage they were in. I want to make sure that the word of God is true and defined and to share the gospel believing God will do what he said he will do, and the word would not return void.

What has been the biggest challenges you've had to overcome in context of ministry?

Just being constant. To keep on moving forward in spite of the situations that life confronts you with. That's the biggest challenge. I try not to be burdened down with others' opinions, but just to move according to what God has purposed for me to do. To effectively orate the word of God so that it has a lasting impact on the ears of those people that hear the words and that I not only preach the words I speak but that it resonates in the life that I live.

What do you consider to be your biggest strength?

I believe my biggest strength is relational. I can pretty much get along with anybody given the chance. I'm more of a mediator trying to resolve conflict rather than try and step my foot into it, so I think one of my biggest strengths is just being able to communicate, being able to build relationships and different comraderies.

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be?

Procrastination is one of my biggest things I would change that I'm actually working on right now.

At one time you were a successful hairstylist. How did you go from a hairstyling to pastoring?

Yeah, I was a hairstylist for 17 years and owned my own salon–a couple of salons actually. I was also a platform artist for Mizani and Soft Sheen hair products, but one I began pastoring, I just felt the marriage between hair and ministry really didn't match. So, I decided to sell my salon. I continued to do hair part-time and went to work for United Airlines. Due to a shortage at the airport, I was subsequently laid off, and I went to Fuller Seminary for a year. They called me back to work for United, but I decided that I wasn’t going to let anyone else be able to lay me off. So instead I got my real estate license and have been selling real estate ever since.

Presently you serve as a publisher of Raise the Praise–the church-based newspaper you established in 2008–how is that going?

Well, we put it on pause during the pandemic due to the fact that we're a church-driven newspaper. So many of the churches had closed. Now, as many of them begin to reopen, we're in the process of revamping and getting back started again.

And how does your church serve the community?

Pre-pandemic and midway through the pandemic, we were doing a food program at our facility, but we have always served the community in a variety of way, dependent upon the need. Right now, we're in the process of a partnership with the Southern Baptists that allows us to be a benefit to those that are in need, whether it be food, clothing...whatever.

At what point will you consider yourself having been successful in ministry?

Never.

Can you explain that?

When the world…when everyone loves each other. I mean it's a constant battle in ministry to move forward, to share, to build people up. But every day the enemy is there trying to push them down, so successful for me is being better than I was the day before… being able to help someone the next day. We don't want to fall backwards. We want to fall forward. So being successful in ministry doesn't equate to the number of people in the church. It doesn't equate to the amount of money in the bank account. Being successful is have I been able to be a good steward of God's word?

From the Pulpit of: CrossWord Christian Church (Moreno Valley) “Praise & Purpose”

W

e live in a world based on communication. We need to communicate if we want to advance in life. We communicate with our spouses, with friends, with strangers. We do these things in the world, but do we do it in the spiritual realm?

If you can't communicate, you don't stand a chance in this world. But here's what I want you to understand.

Communication is even more important in the spiritual realm. You need to know how to communicate with your Father in heaven. To have a conversation, –not just a Sunday morning conversation with God. Why? Because the Bible tells us we are disciples of Christ. A disciple is a person who confesses a belief in Jesus Christ. One who is sold out to the cause of Christ– one who is in it for the long haul.

A disciple is a person who's just disciplined. That's what the word means–we are disciplined.

The longer you're saved, there's some things you no longer should do–some things you should not want to do. It does not mean you're perfect, but when you are a disciple, you're trying to get better.

In fact, we are disciplined in the things we really want to do… the things that are important to us. We're disciplined on our jobs because we want a paycheck. If you are a student, you want to make sure you’re disciplined in school, because you don't want a lack of discipline to affect your grades.

Proverbs 12:1 says, “Whoever loves discipline, loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

Discipline is good. You need to be corrected so you can stop doing the same thing that got you in trouble last time. One of the greatest mistakes you could ever make is to stop learning. –to say I have arrived, that I’ve have made it.

I'm still learning how to be a pastor and leader. Still learning how to be a husband, father and grandfather. I'm always challenging myself and you ought to challenge yourself, because God wants to use you.

But you must be able to talk to people.

Why is it so important? Because marriages

fall apart when you stop communicating with one another. Your relationship with your children will fall apart if you're not communicating with them. Relationships fall apart when you stop communicating with one another.

We see it going on in the political realm, but it also happens in the spiritual realm.

Doesn't mean we need to agree on everything. In fact, if everybody in your circle agrees with you, your circle is too small.

And if you're going to be successful, you need to learn how to talk to God. The way you talk to God dictates how He's going to respond to you.

God said let us make man in our own image. He said let there be light and there was light. God spoke what was not and it came into fruition. You have the ability to do the same thing–to speak to your circumstance and that circumstance becomes better.

God wants us to talk like this because God is a God of relationships and He created you in His image.

The disciples understood that. When they saw Jesus pray, Luke 11:1, they said, “Lord, teach us to pray.”

Why did they ask Jesus to do that?

Because when they saw him pray, they saw things happen.

Every time you pray, something happens and the key to accessing God's power is a powerful prayer life. The key to your breakthrough is a powerful prayer life, not just a Sunday morning prayer, but praying without ceasing.

As preachers, when we come out to pray, we sound good. We're able to flow because we practice it. But when we are in our home and we need something, we say, ‘Lord help me’. I'm talking about being real with God. You can be specific in your prayer. You can say, Lord, I’m going to pray to you, and I expect you to answer.

That's how King David was. In Psalm 5:3, King David said, ‘Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need, and I wait for your answer.’

Now, King David was the greatest king Israel has ever known. As a child, he killed a giant. David wrote 70 other psalms.

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

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

In Long Beach

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

Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7:00pm

Some people say he wrote more. Anointed, he could sing and play a musical instrument. That means the ladies loved him.

As a king, he had the power over life and death. He was the man. David was the progenitor to the disciples. He laid the foundation. He had everything the world had to offer him, yet he never forgot the source of his strength. He still had a relationship with God. He still prayed.

In Matthew 6, the disciples ask of Jesus, ‘Lord teach us to pray’ and He said, ‘This is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Your will be done. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’

Of course, this prayer is called “the Lord's Prayer”, but it's really the disciples prayer because out of this prayer, we see how we can live our lives.

I’ve broken it down into the six parts of prayer, I'm going to give you two parts right now. The first one, part one is praise.

I began by expressing my love to God. Matthew 6:9: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”

Hallo just means Holy. Holy is your name. It just means you're set apart. It means that there's nothing like you. It means that you give credence to God when you open up your prayer.

When you praise him, that's when you tell God how much you really appreciate him. You thank God. God wants you to have a praise on your lips so that praise would get into your heart.

Your praise is not based on circumstance– what you have and what you want to have. Your praise is what you give to God, no matter how you think things are going. Sometimes you just need to praise God until you feel better…until things change in your life.

We need to know how to praise God in season and out of season whether we feel like it or not.

God, I adore you. God, I love you.

Father, there’s none like you. Hallelujah.

He is worthy to be praised. That's the anointing. That's when the spirit of God drops in your spirit.

Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into his gates with Thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, be thankful to Him and bless His name.”

Only anointed people get past the gate.

They're going to stop you if you’re just faking. They're going to say show us why you belong inside the throne room of grace.

The Bible says the angels proclaim His glory. That's how they got in the gate.

They had a praise on the outside so they can get in the inside.

I want to be on the inside of God's favor– inside of God's blessing so I’m going to praise Him until He lets me in. I will keep on praising until my healing comes; until I get a promotion; until I feel better. I'm going to praise you over and over again until you get tired of hearing my voice…until you bless me.

Stop looking at this mean world and thinking that God is done with you. Praise God until things get better. When racism and sexism and every other ism comes down your street, you need to praise God. Lord I don't understand it, I don't like it, but I'm going to keep praising you. You didn't give up on me, so I'm not going to give up on you. I'm going to praise you until my change comes. continued to page 20

Pastor Kirk Sykes

In Lynwood

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In Norwalk

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

Songhai Armstead continued from page 15 Pulpit continued from page 19 Praising God puts you in His presence and I believe you up and running in communities where there's the most long to be in the presence of God, but the truth is we're too need, with detox beds, places for people to recalibrate quick. We pray a quick little prayer and we're on with our before any police intervention and where people can stay a business. couple of weeks until they can be linked to more permaPrayer has to be continual. It's a mindset. It's an atti- nent resources.” tude. It's a spirit.

It means ATI’s new app, currently in the planning The scripture says be thankful unto him and bless his stage, is online and people in crisis can, in real time, be name. Be thankful when you’re questioning, why does it connected to beds and services. seem like the world is winning? Lord, I'm going to praise “It will mean our kids are not seen as criminals, but you anyhow. youth who are learning, developing and who have a purThe first part of the Lord's prayer is praise. Then the pose to fulfill and are provided the opportunity to do so”. second thing you need to focus on, is purpose. If your purIt’s a lot to accomplish, but Armstead is moving at top pose in life is outside of God's will, you're not going to be speed. The Rapid Diversion Program has expanded from blessed. God created you for a reason. one court to six and will be in eight by the end of the sumI didn't think God was going to call me to be a pastor. mer; she has launched the first diversion program in That wasn't my pathway. I was in the business realm, but LAPD’s 77th Division Jail, and although they have hit God had a plan. Keep seeking Him. He has a plan for your some bumps along the way they are still going and will be life. expanding to other areas in the next few months.

Matthew 6:10 reads: “Your kingdom come. Your will be “There’s never been this much support for overhauling done on earth as it is in heaven.” So, I praise God–which our entire justice system in Los Angeles County, Judge is always the high point–but then it says you’ve got to Armstead said, “and we have to seize this moment in time. submit to His will for my life. I praise God and stop trying We can’t let it pass us by.” to be God. I submit to His purpose for my life. I submit to the one who created me.

So why should I pray for God's will to be done in my life? What should I pray for?

Pray for your family...your finances. Pray for the things you are dreaming about. Pray for His church. We’re in a season where we just need to pray without ceasing.

The way you totally submit to God, is summed with this verse, Romans 12:2. “Offer yourself as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to Him. Your service is not just in the church. We need people in the business world, the highways and byways. I'm tired of seeing billionaires have all the wealth, I pray that God will bless you to be a billionaire so you could finance churches growing.

So, how's your prayer life? Be honest with yourself. It’s dangerous thing to lie to God, also a dangerous thing to lie to yourself.

Pray to God and He will release you from the pressures of life because prayer changes things. Prayer changes you and then you would be the vessel to go out and change the negative things in this world when you submit to God's precepts and follow his direction.

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L.A. Focus/September 2021

21

SavingGrace

S

L.A. Focus/September 2021

he followed her dreams to Los Angeles to be a singer, but nearly three decades later, Yvette Nicole Brown has retired her singing to the shower. Instead, she found success in front of the camera as one of the most sought-after character actresses in Hollywood, thanks to memorable appearances on numerous commercials and TV shows, including "Entourage," "The Office," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," ""Malcolm in the Middle," "Central Park," and "The New Edition Story" as well as recurring roles on "Boston Legal," "Girlfriends," "The Odd Couple", “The Chicken Squad” and "The Mayor."

Recently, Brown received her first Emmy nomination in the “Best Comedy Guest Actress” category for her work in “A Black Lady Sketch Show”.

For Brown, there couldn’t been a better place to get her first nomination.

“The idea that the first time I get nominated for an Emmy it’s because of a show created by a Black woman for Black women to shine,” said Brown, who also serves as the host of Disney+ game show The Big Fib. Her breakthrough came as co-star on NBC’s cult hit series, Community in a cast that included comedic great, Chevy Chase, Jeff Winger, Donald Glover, Danny Pudi, Gillian Jacobs, Allison Brie and Ken Jeong.

“Community” debuted in the fall of 2009 and has been hailed by critics as one of the best shows on TV. She co-starred as Shirley, a sassy yet selfrighteous (and judgemental) Christian on the series that follows the lives of misfit students who form a study group while attending a Colorado community college.

Brown thought it a rare occurrence for a Christian to be playing a Christian.

“We’re also similar in that I call people pumpkin and honey. In fact, the first time I read the script, right at the start I said, ‘Oh goodness, this is my part!’ She speaks like me.

But that’s where the similarities end for the native Clevelander whose Mom raised her on Motown music and initially believed she might be a singer. And so just after high school at about 18 years of age, Brown found herself in the lobby of a hotel singing a cappella for Michael Bivens, New Edition star turned Motown record executive who was at the time riding high on his discovery of Boyz II Men. So impressed was Bivens that he not only signed Brown on the spot, but set out to manage her as well.

She sang for a bit and was even featured on the Motown album, The East Coast Family Vol.1, which included the Top 20 single, "1-4-All-4-1", all the while attending the University of Akron. The plan was to graduate and then move to Los Angeles and pursue music full-time. But things did-

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Yvette Nicole Brown n’t work out quite that way.

“In between the time I was first signed to Motown and when I moved out here with the $500 I’d saved, the music industry changed,” Brown recalls. “Everybody was getting naked and singing about stuff my mama would not be happy if I sang, so I said I can’t do it and I ended up working at Motown instead. Singing was apparently not what the Lord had for me.”

Going home was just not an option either. Instead, the decision marked the beginning of what she calls “the assistant route”, taking a series of jobs for MGM, MCA and even as a legal secretary for Showtime.

Said Brown, “It was while working as a legal secretary that I had this opportunity to go on the road with a David Talbert play as an actor and I said, ‘Ok, I’ll try it.”

So, I took a leave of absence for about nine months to a year. My boss at Showtime said “Just take a leave of absence, go out for a month, if you like it you can quit with our blessing. If you don’t like it, your job will be waiting.’ I was out there two weeks before called them to say, ‘I love this.’ And I seemed to be good at it.”

Good was an understatement. Brown– who’d taken an acting class while in college– was a natural.

Work in commercials for Pine Sol, Big Lots, Hamburger Helper led to success on episodic TV and before long feature film, where credits include the romantic comedy "Little Black Book" opposite Brittany Murphy and Kathy Bates; "The I s l a n d , " "Dreamgirls," "Meet Dave", " T r o p i c Thunder"

starring Robert Downey Jr., "Repo Men" with Jude Law and Forest Whitaker, and "The Ugly Truth" with Gerard Butler and Katherine Heigl.

“I believe when God has something for you, He opens doors for you, and I think the purpose of music in my life back then was for me to make it to LA,” Brown observed.

In yet another ironic twist of fate, at 13, after watching an episode of “The Cosby Show”, Yvette Nicole Brown determined that she would marry Theo. Two decades later, she was living that dream out on the set of “Community” through her character, Shirley, whose TV husband, was played by Malcolm Jamal Warner.

Fact is, Brown has excelled as character actress, embracing the term.

“Because that’s the type of actor that works forever.

When you’re real pretty, you’ve got a shelf life,” Brown explains. “I like being the funny girl”.

And unlike most drawn by Hollywood’s bright lights, Brown believes to her core that the light now shining on her is so that she can shine it back on those who need help.

“It’s never just about you,” Brown says. “I’m not one of these people in entertainment that believe I’m special, but I know everything good that has happened in my life is because of Jesus. It’s hard for me to have a conversation and not give God the glory because I see Him in everything.

“I believe people who lose their way get wrapped up into thinking that there’s something about them that makes them worthy of the spotlight,” said the 50-year old actress who wrote, exec produced and co-starred in the 2019 indie film, Always A Bridesmaid.

“I don’t get that”, she continues. “How could you think that you’re worthy of people loving you to this degree?

You have to know that there’s a reason for this and if someone wants to hear from me, I have to say something about what gives me this sense of peace or what’s important. What I think about things isn’t important, but what God thinks about things is. I think it’s happened for me because I have a heart for people and I’m an encourager.”

Her saving grace, she says, is her faith.

“The thing about faith is you’re taking a step on ground that you can’t see. It’s foolish because to people on the outside, and maybe even yourself, in hindsight, it’s crazy. But at the moment, you’re right at the place where God needs you.”

As to what gets her through the rough times?

“I’m a big fan of gospel music so when I’m going through something, I’ll turn on a praise station and that feeds me,” Brown said. “Also, I always write down quotes that bless me and I have them in a big book. Quotes about keeping the faith and God’s goodness and it just grounds me. The Bible even says, ‘Think on these things,’ the things that are pure and wonderful. I feel like what you feed yourself is what comes out of you. So, if you feed yourself good stuff, good stuff will come out.”