Nearly two years ago, President
discrimination
receive payments
up to
Historic $2 Billion Victory for Black Farmers in Relief Payments
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
This week marks a monumental victory for Black farmers as they begin receiving payments from the $2.2 billion Discrimination Financial Assistance Program (DFAP). After decades of advocacy and struggle, John Boyd, President of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA), declared the day “a huge win.” Nearly two years ago, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Section 22007, authorizing compensation for farmers who faced racial discrimination in the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) farm lending practices before 2021. This week, around 43,000 farmers will receive payments of up to $500,000, with the average award being $82,000. Reflecting on this long-awaited achievement, Boyd recounted his journey, which began almost 40 years ago when he first experienced these injustices. “No matter how it is sliced, the $2.2 billion in payouts is historic,” he said. This follows previous settlements, including a $1 billion payout in 1999 and a $1.25 billion settlement in 2013. The NBFA’s relentless efforts have also paved the way for similar settlements with Hispanic and women farmers
($1.3 billion), Native American farmers ($800 million), and the Cobell case settlement ($3.4 billion). Boyd’s dedication to justice has been challenging. He faced hateful phone calls, mail, and even death threats. Despite these obstacles, he remained steadfast in his fight. “Total restoration is impossible, but for me, the fight was about justice,” Boyd emphasized.
Midtown Group, an unbiased third-party administrator, oversaw the DFAP’s administration to ensure a fair adjudication procedure for each farmer’s case.
Although the 40-page application process and long wait times added to the farmers’ pain, the payments represent a bittersweet victory. Boyd acknowledged that issues such as banks denying operating funds or farm ownership loans persist, as do recent allegations of racial discrimination against companies like John Deere.
For those denied assistance through the DFAP, there is no appeal or review process, a reality Boyd profoundly regrets. Many Black farmers have died waiting for justice, but today’s announcement brings some closure. Boyd reflected on his tireless efforts, from lobbying Congress to protesting with his mules “Struggle” and “Forty Acres,” and riding his tractor, “Justice,” to Washington. Listening
to Senior White House Advisor Stephen Benjamin detail the award notifications and check disbursement made it all worthwhile. “Today is a huge win for the NBFA,” he declared.
In October 2022, civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced a class action suit against the United States government on behalf of the NBFA. The lawsuit came after findings that Black farmers lost approximately $326 billion of land due to discrimination during the 20th century. Crump and the farmers argued that the federal government breached its contract with socially disadvantaged farmers under the American Rescue Plan Act.
Despite these challenges, President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to addressing inequities in farming.
“Farmers and ranchers work around the clock to put food on our tables and steward our Nation’s land. But for too long, many farmers and ranchers experienced discrimination in farm loan programs and have not had the same access to federal resources and support. I promised to address this inequity when I became President. Today that promise has become a reality,” Biden stated.
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire
Senior National
Correspondent
Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign is gaining unstoppable momentum as it barrels toward the Democratic National Convention. The presumptive nominee has secured significant endorsements and amassed unprecedented financial support, solidifying her position as the leading Democratic contender.
This week, the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the largest professional union of social workers worldwide, has endorsed Vice President Harris’s bid for the presidency. NASW CEO Dr. Anthony Estreet highlighted Harris’s unwavering leadership on mental health and her commitment to expanding access to care. “Vice President Harris has consistently championed issues vital to our members and the communities they serve,” Dr. Estreet said, urging every union member to mobilize for Harris’s victory. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the United Auto Workers (UAW) have also thrown their weight behind Harris. In an interview with MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace, UAW President Shawn Fain drew a stark contrast between the candidates: “You have one candidate in Trump who represents the billionaire class—I call him the lap dog for the billionaires. And you have a candidate in Kamala Harris, who stands for working-class people and has proven it through her actions.”
Two-thirds of the contributions from first-time donors drove July’s fundraising success. More than 3 million donors made over 4.2 million contributions, with over 2 million making their first donation this cycle. Grassroots support was solid, with 94% of donations under $200 and significant increases in donations from Gen Z, Millennials, and women.
Officials said the Harris campaign’s grassroots machine is a testament to its broad and energized coalition, which included: July marked the highest grassroots fundraising month in presidential history.
Team Harris raised more from grassroots donors in the four days following Biden’s endorsement than Trump’s entire monthly total.
Teachers and nurses are among the most common donor occupations, reflecting Harris’s appeal across diverse sectors.
Coalition groups like Black Women for Harris, Latinas for Harris, and White Dudes for Harris collectively raised over $20 million, underscoring the widespread enthusiasm for Harris’s candidacy.“This historic fundraising haul is a powerful indicator of the momentum and energy behind Vice President Harris. Our coalition is mobilized and ready to work tirelessly to ensure victory in November,” Campaign Manager Julie Chavez Rodriguez declared. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison echoed Rodriguez’s thoughts. “From unprecedented grassroots fundraising to a surge in new volunteers, it’s clear that voters are fired up to elect Kamala Harris and defeat Donald Trump,”
Fueling Harris’s campaign is a historic fundraising effort. Team Harris announced a staggering $310 million raised in July, marking the largest single-month haul of the 2024 cycle. The Trump campaign and RNC combined contributions for the same period pale in comparison to this record-breaking amount, resulting from an unprecedented grassroots fundraising surge. Notably, over $200 million was raised in the week following President Biden’s endorsement of Harris. With this latest milestone, Team Harris has surpassed the $1 billion mark this cycle, achieving this historic fundraising threshold faster than any previous presidential campaign. The campaign also reports an impressive $377 million in cash on hand, the largest ever at this point in a presidential cycle, outpacing the Trump team by $50 million.
(Courtesy Photo)
ex-wife of Kevin Hart’s character. Ash told the Los Angeles Times in 2017 that for awhile, the only roles she was offered were similar to that character, but she wanted to have a more varied career.
“I want to make choices based on what I want to read about myself when
Meshell Ndegeocello performs during the Newport Jazz Festival, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024, in Newport, R.I. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
They Invited Trump to Disrespect a Black Woman and Did Nothing to Protect or Back Her Up.
By Stacy M. Brown
NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Donald Trump’s controversial appearance at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) annual convention in Chicago may have been even more of a disaster than most had anticipated. The nasty vitriol the twice-impeached former president immediately brought should only heighten calls for the hierarchy of NABJ to resign. The disgraceful event began with tension as wellrespected ABC News journalist Rachel Scott asked Trump about his past racist comments and why Black voters should trust him. “First of all, I don’t think I’ve ever been asked a question in such a horrible manner,” Trump responded. His statement was met with audible gasps from the audience, setting a combative tone for the 34-minute discussion that followed a nearly hour-long delay.
During the discussion, Trump, among his many rantfilled and off the rails diatribes, questioned Vice President Kamala Harris’s racial identity, asking, “Is she Indian or is she Black?” He falsely claimed that Harris, who has long identified as Black and attended a historically Black university, previously identified as Indian before “all of a sudden” becoming Black. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre condemned Trump’s comments as “repulsive” and “insulting,” asserting that “no one has any right to tell someone who they are.”
The 34 times convicted felon and former president also reiterated his openness to pardoning January 6 rioters, stating, “If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.” When Scott drew attention to their convictions, Trump dissembled by asserting falsely that pro-Palestinian protesters had attacked the Capitol last week, confusing it with the recent protests at Washington, D.C.’s Union Station. Throughout the panel discussion, which included Scott, FOX News personality and Trump apologist Harris Faulkner, and Kadia Goba from Semafor, Trump continued to clash with the audience and the panelists. He labeled Scott “nasty” for her questions, prompting shouts of “false” and boos from the crowd.
Trump also addressed his running mate, J.D. Vance, downplaying the significance of a running mate following Vance’s controversial remarks about childless women.
the invitation, with
— The
The single most
denouncing the decision as
and
values of inclusion and solidarity. “They invited him to disrespect a Black woman and did nothing to protect or back her up,” journalist and author David Dennis Jr. tweeted. “The single most disgraceful thing I’ve ever seen at NABJ.”
Toward the event’s conclusion, Trump declared his intentions to “close the border” and lower energy prices and interest rates if re-elected. “I want people to come into our country, but they have to be vetted, and they have to be checked,” he told the crowd. He also doubleddown on his insult to African Americans by stating that
illegal immigrants were taking “Black jobs,” to which the audience again hissed and booed. The aftermath of the event has led to significant fallout within the NABJ. Karen Attiah, a Washington Post columnist and co-chair of the convention, resigned in protest over the decision to invite Trump. In her
resignation announcement on X (formerly Twitter), Attiah expressed disappointment over not being consulted about the decision.
Prominent members of the journalism community also voiced their disapproval. Jim Trotter, a sportswriter for The Athletic and NABJ’s 2023 Journalist of the Year, called the decision “difficult to put into words.” CBS Sports analyst Ashley Nicole Moss, journalist-turned-publicist Dave Jordan, and media strategist April Reign joined the chorus of criticism.
Ameshia Cross, a Democratic strategist and political pundit, and former NABJ journalist of the year Ernest Owens highlighted the irony of inviting Trump, given his history of attacking Black journalists and efforts to undermine diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. “Shame on you NABJ,” Owens tweeted. “A disgrace. Defund and divest.”
The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) also condemned the invitation, with NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry and President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis denouncing the decision as harmful and contrary to NABJ’s values of inclusion and solidarity. “They invited him to disrespect a Black woman and did nothing to protect or back her up,” journalist and author David Dennis Jr. tweeted. “The single most disgraceful thing I’ve ever seen at NABJ.” Harris communication’s director Michael Tyler also denounced Trump’s hostile engagement with NABJ.
“The hostility Donald Trump showed on stage today is the same hostility he has shown throughout his life, throughout his term in office, and throughout his campaign for president as he seeks to regain power and inflict his harmful Project 2025 agenda on the American people,”
Biden and Harris Celebrate Return of Americans Freed from Russia in Historic Prisoner Swap
By Stacy M. Brown
Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Late Thursday night, August 1, President Biden and Vice President Harris welcomed home Americans freed from Russia in a historic prisoner swap. The White House emphasized Biden and Harris’ commitment to reuniting every wrongfully detained or held hostage American with their families, showcasing a significant diplomatic achievement.
Officials said a complex negotiation involving seven countries culminated in the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan, Alsu Kurmasheva, and green-card holder Vladimir Kara-Murza. The exchange, which took place at the international airport in Ankara, Turkey, saw 24 prisoners transferred from the United States, Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Russia. It also took place nearly 20 months after WNBA star Brittney Griner was released from a Russian penal colony in exchange for Viktor Bout. “Great day. It’s a great day. It’s a great day,” Griner said. “We’ll talk more about it later. But head over heels happy for the families right now. Any day that Americans come home, that’s a win. That’s a win.”
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Biden highlighted the unprecedented nature of the deal, marking the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union that Moscow freed prominent dissidents as part of a swap. In total, 16 people were released from Russian custody, including political prisoners who had endured years of suffering and uncertainty.
“Today, three American citizens and one American green card holder who were unjustly imprisoned in Russia are finally coming home: Paul Whelan, Evan Gershkovich, Alsu Kurmasheva, and Vladimir Kara-Murza,” Biden announced. “This deal that secured their freedom was a feat of diplomacy. We’ve negotiated the release of 16 people from Russia, including five Germans and seven Russian citizens who were political prisoners in their own country.”
The President thanked the allies who supported the tough negotiations, including Germany, Poland, Slovenia, Norway, and Turkey. “This is a powerful example of why it’s vital to have friends in this world whom you can trust and depend upon. Our alliances make Americans safer,” he stated.
Biden also noted that Harris played a vital role in helping secure the release of the detainees. “They and their families have shown incredible courage in the face of atrocious and devastating circumstances,” Harris said. The vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee condemned the sham trials and long prison sentences imposed by Russian authorities, calling it an “appalling perversion of justice.” Harris also noted the inclusion of Russian political prisoners in the exchange, emphasizing the United States’ support for freedom fighters in Russia. “Earlier today, I spoke with Aleksey Navalny’s widow, Yulia, to discuss the significance of their release,” Harris said. “The United States stands with all of those who are fighting for freedom in Russia.”
As they celebrated the return of the Americans, both Biden and Harris stressed their ongoing commitment to securing the release of others wrongfully detained worldwide. “We will never stop fighting for their release,” Harris declared.
“I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family,” Biden added. “My administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity since before I took office. Still, too many families are suffering and separated from their loved ones, and I have no higher priority as President than bringing those Americans home.” He concluded: “Today, we celebrate the return of Paul, Evan, Alsu, and Vladimir and rejoice with their families. We remember all those still wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world. And reaffirm our pledge to their families: We see you. We are with you. And we will never stop working to bring your loved ones home where they belong.”
White House Unveils
New Policies to Transform Child Welfare
By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent
The White House announced a series of new policies today aimed at preventing family separation and creating opportunities for families and youth during a convening that brought together policymakers from federal, state, local, and tribal governments, along with leaders from philanthropy, child welfare, and family support organizations, and individuals with personal experiences in the child welfare system. The event focused on encouraging innovation, building partnerships, and sharing best practices. One central area of focus is the distinction between poverty and neglect. The Biden-Harris administration demanded that children should not be separated from their families solely due to financial hardship. States like Kentucky, Indiana, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Kansas have already clarified that poverty should not be a reason for child removal. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced new policy guidance encouraging states to update their definitions of maltreatment under the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act to exclude situations where families are unable to provide adequate housing, childcare, and other material needs due to financial constraints. Additionally, HHS officials asserted that the agency remains committed to developing training guidance for mandated reporters to help them connect economically fragile families to support services and recognize these new definitions of neglect.
Further, the administration plans to expand how states and tribes can use federal funding for prevention activities, including offering more flexibility to tribal governments to use accepted prevention services in collaboration with state child welfare agencies. Officials said the policies also permit federal administrative funding to help families engage with prevention programs through services such
as case management, peer navigation, and transportation.
In a fact sheet, the White House said future guidance will detail how to integrate the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program to prevent involvement in the child welfare system.
Officials said the administration also prioritizes the needs of children and youth. Recognizing that children with relatives and other kin have better outcomes, the new policies incentivize jurisdictions to ensure children can live with kin when they cannot be with their parents. This includes allowing child welfare agencies to use federal funds for background checks to expedite the licensing process for kin caregivers, creating a new website to spotlight states and tribes that have adopted kinship licensing rules, and publishing a resource guide for grandparents and kin caregivers. Additionally, the administration promised to conduct listening sessions to identify federal flexibilities for states and tribes to adopt kinship-first approaches.
HHS announced several projects to develop actionable research on the intersection between prevention, family support, and child well-being outcomes. The projects plan to highlight innovative prevention approaches that rely on service integration and agency collaboration to prevent homelessness among youth aging out of foster care and to build family resilience. They will also enable researchers to study linked Medicaid and child welfare data to understand better the health needs of children and parents involved in the child welfare system and examine the characteristics and experiences of families who relinquished or voluntarily placed their children in child welfare custody.
Officials insisted that the Biden-Harris administration has a strong track record on child welfare. Since
administration demanded that children should not be separated from their families solely due to financial hardship.
NNPA NEWSWIRE
National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) also condemned
NNPA National Chair Bobby Henry and President & CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis
harmful
contrary to NABJ’s
The Biden-Harris
Video Game Performers Protest Unregulated AI Use at Warner Bros. Studios
By SARAH PARVINI and KAITLYN HUAMANI
Associated Press
LOS ANGELES (AP) — More than 300 video game
performers and Hollywood actors picketed in front of the Warner Bros. Studios building on Thursday to protest against what they call an unwillingness from top gaming companies to protect union voice actors and motion capture workers equally against the unregulated use of artificial intelligence.
Standing before the crowd, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director of the Screen Actors GuildAmerican Federation of Television and Radio Artists, said that AI has become the most challenging issue in many of the union's negotiations.
“We’ve made deals with the studios and streamers. We’ve made deals without a strike with the major record labels and with countless other employers, which provide for informed consent and fair compensation for our members," he told The Associated Press. "And yet, for some reason, the video game companies refuse to do that and that’s what’s going to be their undoing.”
The protest marks the first large labor action since SAG-AFTRA game workers voted to strike last week. The work stoppage came after more than 18 months of negotiations with gaming giants, including divisions of Activision, Warner Bros. and Walt Disney Co., over a new interactive media agreement stalled over protections around the use of AI. Warner Bros. Games is the publisher behind games including “Hogwarts Legacy” and “Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League.”
“Signs up, games down, LA is a union town,” the crowd chanted Thursday morning, many of them holding up signs emblazoned with a fist holding a video game controller. One man, dressed in a skull mask reminiscent of a “Call of Duty” character named Ghost, waved a poster that read, “Don’t ghost us for AI. It’s your call of duty to pay actors.” The first-person shooter game is published by Activision. Members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Writers Guild of America also attended the protest in solidarity. Union leaders have billed AI as an existential crisis for performers. Game voice actors and motion capture artists’ likenesses, they say, could be replicated by AI and used without consent and fair compensation. The unregulated
use of AI, the union says, poses “an equal or even greater threat” to performers in the video game industry than it does in film and television because the capacity to cheaply and easily create convincing digital replicas of performers’ voices is widely available.
Concerns over AI helped fuel last year’s film and television strikes by the union, which lasted four months.
On the picket line, Konstantine Anthony said that most people want humans — not AI — to be their storytellers.
“A lot of the algorithms that we see in our most advanced video games have been around for decades. It’s just become more and more advanced to recreate, likeness -- that’s really what they’re trying to do so that they don’t have to use us anymore,” said Anthony, a Burbank city council and SAG-AFTRA member. “That’s why we’re here today: to ask that they simply pay their storytellers.”
Seth Allyn Austin, a motion capture artist, said his involvement in his union has significantly grown as the negotiations continued over the last year and a half.
“To come here and then to be supported by your fellow artists, knowing that you’re all in this fight together, it’s like they’re all a monument standing behind me. It’s amazing," said Austin, who has worked on games such as “Horizon Forbidden West” and “God of War Ragnarok.”
Audrey Cooling, a spokesperson for the video game producers, said the companies have offered AI protections as well as “a significant increase in wages for SAG-AFTRA represented performers in video games.”
“We have worked hard to deliver proposals with reasonable terms that protect the rights of performers while ensuring we can continue to use the most advanced technology to create a great gaming experience for fans,” Cooling said. “We have proposed terms that provide consent and fair compensation for anyone employed under the (contract) if an AI reproduction or digital replica of their performance is used in games.”
SAG-AFTRA’s negotiating committee argued that the studios’ definition of who constitutes a “performer” is key to understanding the issue of who would be protected.
“The industry has told us point blank that they do not necessarily consider everyone who is rendering movement performance to be a performer that is covered by the collective bargaining agreement,” SAG-AFTRA Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez said at a news conference
last week, adding that some physical performances are being treated as “data.”
The union had been negotiating with an industry bargaining group consisting of signatory video game companies. Those companies are Activision Productions Inc., Blindlight LLC, Disney Character Voices Inc., Electronic
and
The global video game industry generated nearly $184 billion in revenue in 2023, according to game market forecaster Newzoo, with revenues projected to reach $207 billion in 2026.
“We are at the table because we want to include SAGAFTRA-represented performers in our productions, and we will continue working to resolve the last remaining issue in these negotiations,” Cooling said. “Our goal is to reach an agreement with the union that will end this strike.”
Music Review:
More of the Same Has Khalid Treading Water on Third Album
By MARK KENNEDY
and airy and spare rhythms, melting together like a sticky popsicle on the dash. It's music you should listen to on a dark highway on the way home after being up all night, headlights steady and hands surfing the summer air as the sun peaks up again. Whatever Khalid is singing about — drug addiction,
“Talk” and “Better” — an album that was selected among the AP’s top collections in 2019. The new one likely won't make anyone's 2024 list, maybe because we've learned what to expect from Khalid or maybe because the artist is just treading water. There are some outstanding tunes — “Lifted,” with its lazy guitar lick, and the punchy “Everything We See” — but the cumulative effect is numbness. Too many songs come and go without a noticeable difference. The whispery prayer “Broken” leads to the ghostly harmonies of "Who’s There To Pick Me Up." Even Khalid's attempt to change up his vocals — like on “Ground,” sung partly
with gritted teeth — fails to jolt us out of our lazy high.
Though he’s known to collaborate with everyone from Halsey to Kane Brown, Khalid again keeps the guest list light here, with only Arlo Parks jolting the album into something intriguing on “Breathe.” He clearly needs her a lot more than she needs him.
Songs like “Tainted,” “Adore U,” “Long Way Home” and “Heatstroke” would be home runs on anyone else's album, but here they're mostly filler — colors and atmospheres and moods all too familiar.
“I never thought it’d be over so quickly,” he sings on the final song, “Decline.” He's talking about a lost love, of course, but it might as well describe the entire “Sincere.” It's got vibes but no soul.
Cardi B Asks Court to Award Her Primary Custody of Her Children with Offset
Divorce Records Show
By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Cardi B is seeking primary
custody of her children with rapper Offset, including a baby on the way, court records in the couple's divorce show.
The Grammy-winning hip-hop superstar is also seeking child support from Offset, known for his successful solo career and role in the trap group Migos.
Details of Cardi B's requests were included in divorce documents obtained Friday, a day afetr they were filed Thursday in New Jersey Superior Court in Bergen County. Cardi B, 31, and Offset, 32, have two children together: 6-year-old daughter Kulture and 2-year-old son Wave. She is pregnant with their third child, which she announced in an Instagram post Thursday. The filings state Offset is the father.
The filing says that for the past six months, Cardi B and Offset, whose birth names are Belcalis Almanzar and Kiari Cephus respectively, “have experienced irreconcilable differences ... There is no reasonable prospect of reconciliation between the parties.”
A representative for Cardi B told The Associated Press on Thursday: “This is not based on any one particular incident, it has been a long time coming and is amicable.”
The hip-hop power
America’s High School Students to Descend
Upon Walt Disney World Resort for HBCU Week
\College fair at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex expected to be among the foundation’s largest ever; More than 8,000 high school students from the Southeast and beyond invited to attend; College admissions and four-year scholarships to be awarded on the spot; Event is part of Walt Disney World’s ongoing support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities nationwide LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (Aug. 1, 2024) – The HBCU Week Foundation is bringing its college fair to Walt Disney World Resort for the second time, continuing Walt Disney World’s support of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The HBCU Week Foundation is a nonprofit organization that encourages high school-age youth to enroll in HBCUs, provides scholarship dollars for matriculation, and sustains a pipeline for employment from undergraduate school to corporate America. It’s a two-day event that takes place every other year and is happening Oct. 23-24 this year at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, which last hosted the event in 2022. The event will feature a reception along with a college fair that’s expected to draw nearly 8,000 high school students from across the Southeast and beyond, making it one of the foundation’s largest ever. On hand will be more than 40 representatives from the nation’s HBCUs, some of whom will be granting on-the-spot admissions and four-year scholarships worth millions of dollars. There will be lots of Disney magic sprinkled throughout the event, including appearances by beloved Disney characters, entertainment, music, and some special surprise moments that can only happen at The Most Magical Place on Earth. The 2022 event at Walt Disney World featured more than 8,000 attendees and over $11 million in scholarships, which were both event records at that time.
“I am incredibly grateful to Walt Disney World Resort for its unwavering support in providing high school students with the opportunity to participate in one of the largest college fairs in the nation,” says Ashley Christopher, founder of HBCU Week Foundation. “Their commitment not only opens doors to HBCUs but also paves a path towards a debt-free education for these bright young minds. Together, we are shaping a future where dreams know no financial barriers.” Walt Disney World’s support of the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair is part of an ongoing collaboration between the foundation and Disney on the Yard, an initiative focused on deepening Disney’s
engagement with HBCUs. By working closely with HBCUs, Disney aims to continue building a long-term pipeline for HBCU graduates through the development of student internships, mentorship opportunities, career and employee spotlights, scholarships, and more.
“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the smiles and excitement on these students’ faces when they receive acceptance letters and scholarships,” says Avis Lewis,
executive champion of Disney on the Yard. “This kind of joy fuels Disney’s commitment to supporting this event and Disney on the Yard. We want to provide these students with the chance to attend college and pursue successful careers, and we view this as just the beginning of their journey.” Likewise, the HBCU Week Foundation plans to deepen its commitment to supporting HBCUs through a recent $1 million grant, which will assist in expanding the
foundation’s ongoing efforts to advance HBCU enrollment, offer academic scholarships, and guide students through successful transitions from university life to professional careers. For more information about the HBCU Week Foundation College Fair and for students to register for the collegeAboutfair, visit www.HBCUWeek.org. HBCU Week HBCU Week was founded by Ashley Christopher, Esq. in 2017. It is managed by the HBCU Week Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. HBCU Week consists of multi-day events held throughout the nation each year, designed to encourage high school-aged youth to enroll in HBCUs, provide scholarship dollars for matriculation and sustain a pipeline for employment from undergraduate school to corporate America. A highlight of our events is the College Fair, which offers on-thespot college acceptance and scholarships to qualified high school seniors. The foundation’s mission is rooted in its resounding commitment to introduce high school students to the rich heritage and esteemed legacies of HBCUs with the ultimate goal of inspiring them to explore these institutions for their higher education aspirations. For more information, visit www.HBCUWeek.org. Follow
Trump Struggles to Counter Harris’s Campaign Momentum
Resorting to a Game Plan Stuck in the Past
By Joe W. Bowers Jr.
California Black Media
Since Pres. Joe Biden decided not to seek re-election, Donald Trump has struggled to find his footing in a campaign that was previously geared toward attacking Biden’s age and fitness.
His performance at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) Convention last week highlighted his inability to redefine his new opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump’s comments, particularly his questioning of Harris’s racial identity, failed to resonate with the audience and underscored his reliance on divisive rhetoric.
Trump’s response to Harris’s candidacy has focused on personal attacks rather than her record or Biden’s policies. He has used nicknames like “Laffin Kamala, Lying Kamala, and Phony Kamala” and he has concentrated on her race -her father is Black Jamaican, and her mother is East Asian Indian. At the NABJ convention, Trump clashed with a panel of Black women journalists, accusing Harris of “switching her race” to gain political advantage. “She was always of Indian heritage, and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she turned Black, and now she wants to be known as Black?”, Trump claimed.
This approach, intended to sow doubt about Harris’s authenticity, instead highlighted Trump’s persistent use of racially charged rhetoric. His failure to adequately address issues relevant to the Black community, such as the rising cost of living, small business support, maternal mortality, voting rights, and police reform, further alienated the NABJ audience.
Trump’s inability to adapt is also evident in his decision to cancel the Sept. 10 ABC Presidential debate, insisting on a new format with Fox News. This reflects his difficulty in keeping up with Harris’s campaign momentum. He characterized Harris’s rise as a “coup” within the Democratic Party, as he struggles to address her ascent effectively. Harris, who attended Howard University, a historically Black university (HBCU), and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), a Black sorority, has been measured in responding to Trump’s divisiveness. At a Sigma Gamma Rho sorority event in Houston, she stated, “The American people deserve better. The American people deserve a leader who tells the truth. A leader who does not respond with hostility and anger when confronted with the facts.” Harris, as a multiracial American, has the ability to “code-switch”—a skill many people of color use to navigate various cultural environments and connect with diverse audiences. This skill allows her to authentically engage with different communities, whether she is rigorously questioning Supreme Court nominees, addressing issues
at historically Black colleges and universities, or hosting Diwali celebrations. Code-switching is not about deceit but about adapting communication styles to resonate with different groups, a testament to her versatility and relatability.
Trump’s inability to grasp this concept underscores his disconnect from the experiences of people of color and multiracial Americans. Instead of recognizing codeswitching as a valuable skill, Trump has tried to frame it as deceitful. This tactic plays into a broader narrative Trump has pushed that questions the authenticity of people who do not fit into a narrow, often racially homogenous, mold. By framing Harris’s multifaceted identity and her ability to adapt her communication as something suspect, Trump reveals his limited understanding of the complex and dynamic nature of American identity.
In contrast to Trump, Harris’ campaign is focused on issues resonating with a broad spectrum of voters, such as voting rights, women’s reproductive freedoms, and economic inequalities. Her message of inclusivity and progress stands in stark contrast to Trump’s attempts to rekindle fears of a changing America. She has even begun defending her border record, releasing a video framing her as pro-border security.
Trump’s reliance on racially charged rhetoric reinforces his image as a candidate stuck in the past. Harris can use Trump’s attacks to her advantage by staying focused on her message of unity and progress.
Harris’ campaign mentioning the “weirdness” and outdated nature of Trump’s worldview may prove effective. She is presenting herself as the candidate of the future. This framing helps her cast Trump and his allies as out- of-touch with modern American values as she and her surrogates point out the rollback of rights spelled out in the ultra-conservative Project 2025 agenda, which includes proposals to restrict voting rights, undermine reproductive freedoms, weaken environmental protections and rewrite parts of the Constitution, such as the 14th Amendment which grants citizenship rights.
As we approach the November election, we can expect the contrast to become starker between Trump’s provocative rhetoric that yearns for a return to an ambiguous bygone era of American greatness and Harris’ upbeat message that imagines a unified, forward-looking, stronger America
Mickey Mouse at the College fair at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
California Capitol News You Might Have Missed Political Playback:
By Bo Tefu and Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media
Calif. Supreme Court Concurs: Racial Slurs Can Be Considered Harassment
The California Supreme Court reinstated a racial discrimination lawsuit filed by a Black woman in the San Francisco Attorney’s Office after a coworker used a racist slur against her.
Twanda Bailey filed the lawsuit arguing that a human resources manager mocked her stating that the worker’s compensation she claimed was not a “real issue.”
Bailey worked as an investigative assistant at the DA’s office when she sued the city in 2015. A Superior Court and appellate court ruled against her. The courts argued that the incident did not meet the legal bar for discriminatory conduct. The court says its decision was based on a single reported incident from a coworker with no direct power rather than repeated harassment or retaliation.
However, the California State Supreme Court revisited the case and overturned the appeals court ruling. The new ruling obligates the judges to reconsider the lawsuit in the context of broader office relationships rather than an isolated incident when a racial slur was used against Bailey.
Justice Kelli Evans acknowledged the historical context of the racial slur in a unanimous decision by the court judges.
“We conclude that an isolated act of harassment may be actionable if it is sufficiently severe in light of the totality of the circumstances, and that a coworker’s use of an unambiguous racial epithet, such as the N-word, may be found to suffice,” wrote Justice Evans in the court ruling.
Bailey claimed that the coworker who used the racial slur had a track record of mistreating Black women.
A week later, Bailey’s coworkers denied the claim and a supervisor failed to file a formal complaint about the incident with HR management. The HR officer, Evette Taylor-Monachino, refused to file a complaint that would escalate the issue and accused Bailey of creating a hostile work environment for the accused coworker.
San Francisco Floats Plan to Pay Welfare Recipients $100 a Week to Stay Sober
San Francisco city officials proposed a welfare program paying $100 per week to stop people from using drugs, an incentive program encouraging sobriety rather than punishment to curb the fentanyl crisis.
On July 29, Mayor London Breed announced the program “Cash Not Drugs” that aims to reward welfare recipients with $100 weekly if they test negative for illicit drugs. Eligible recipients would receive the funds as a gift card or electronic benefit transfer for a card used by similar government programs.
Breed announced the program at City Hall during a press conference.
“I want to make it just as easy to get treatment as it is to go out there and buy dope,” said Breed. “Whatever it takes to get people on the right path — that’s what we need to do.” So far, the city has invested $20 million in abstinencebased programs in the past few years, Mayor Breed added. Despite arresting hundreds of drug users, the city continues to experience a high number of fatal drug overdoses.
Matt Dorsey of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors said the proposed legislation will scale up the city’s efforts to make a profound impact.
“If we can make progress to help people get on the other side of their addiction, we will see progress on all kinds of things -- from street conditions to retail theft too, hopefully, and most importantly, reversing the level of overdoses,” said Dorsey.
LAPD Officer Punches
Handcuffed Black Man in Watts
Los Angeles officials are investigating an LAPD officer for a violent incident that video recording showing the cop punching a handcuffed African American man.
Alexander Mitchell, the man getting arrested in the video, was handcuffed with his hands behind his back when the cop punched him, hitting him on the jaw.
The viral video has caused public backlash on social media calling for the officer to be charged.
The accused officer seen in the video has been taken off the streets as authorities investigate the incident, the LAPD posted on the social media platform X.
The LAPD later released a statement claiming that Mitchell resisted arrest but was sent to a nearby hospital for medical clearance before booking.
Authorities stated that the officers saw a vehicle with heavily tinted windows and assumed the car was empty. But they later discovered that Mitchell was inside and ordered him to get out of the car.
“As a crowd began to gather around the scene, additional backup was requested,” the LAPD stated.
“During the handcuffing process, Mitchell resisted by refusing to place his hands behind his back and grasping his front waistband/pocket area with his right hand, preventing the officers from securing him. An officer then struck Mitchell on the right side of his face, enabling the officers to complete the handcuffing,” the authorities stated.
Civil rights leaders and organizations urged L.A. District Attorney George Gascón to file charges against the unnamed police officer.
Najee Ali, director of Project Islamic Hope likened the video to previous violent incidents similar to the LAPD beating of Rodney King caught on video in 1991.
“It’s shocking that this officer would assault a handcuffed man who’s already restrained. It’s not resisting. It’s as if they hadn’t learned anything since the Rodney King beating, which is also videotaped,” said Ali.
“He doesn’t deserve to be on the force. He deserves to be in handcuffs sitting in a jail cell,” Ali added.
Local Leaders Welcome Gov. Newsom’s Plan to Clear Homeless Encampments
Community leaders from across California backed Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order allowing state agencies and departments to enforce policies that clear homeless encampments.
The directive, announced last week, comes after the United States Supreme Court’s ruling that lawmakers can impose fines and jail time on homeless people sleeping or camping outside. The state is working with communitybased organizations and county agencies to help local governments create policies that address encampments in their counties.
According to the executive order, the state has awarded $24 billion to multiple agencies and departments, offering housing and homeless support services for residents statewide. Local government officials in various counties partnered with the state to support vulnerable people who live in encampments.
California’s big city mayors and county officials welcomed Gov. Newsom’s directive and partnered with the state to address homelessness with urgency and meaningful action.
Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg supports Newsom’s executive order and is eager to work with the state to improve state programs and services for homeless people.
“The guidance is really consistent with our twopronged approach. I believe in compassionate enforcement. I don’t believe people should be living in squalor in these large tent encampments. Compassionate enforcement and aggressively increasing capacity on the shelter side, on
the housing crisis, the educator shortage, and for providing key resources that will ultimately drive student success,” he said.
Newsom’s Office Responds to Chevron’s Decision to Move to Texas
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office says he is not surprised about Chevron’s announcement on Aug. 2 that is relocating its headquarters to Houston, Tex., after being in California for the last 40 years. According to Governor’s Office spokesperson Alex Stacks, the announcement by the oil company, based in San Ramon, is old news to the Newsom administration.
“This announcement is the logical culmination of a long process that has repeatedly been foreshadowed by Chevron. We’re proud of California’s place as the leading creator of clean energy jobs – a critical part of our diverse, innovative, and vibrant economy,” Stacks said in a statement to California Black Media.
Chevron has 7,000 employees in Houston and about 2,000 workers in San Ramon. It operates crude oil fields, technical facilities, two refineries, and services more than 1,800 retail stations in California.
According to CNET, Computer Network, regarding fuel quality, discounts, and convenience, Chevron’s national chains scored “the highest points in overall customer satisfaction” in 2022. The company is scheduled to move to Houston by the end of 2024.
“There will be minimal immediate relocation impacts to other employees currently based in San Ramon. The
the services side and on the housing side, is the key,” said Steinberg.
Graham Knaus, chief executive officer of the California Association of Counties, looks forward to collaborating with state and local government leaders to provide shelter and health services.
“California’s 58 counties will continue to work together with the Governor and share his sense of urgency to make meaningful progress to clean up our communities, support those in need of shelter, and to provide behavioral health services to those who need it most,” said Knaus.
Ed Chief Tony Thurmond
Plans to Build 2.3 Million New Housing Units on Land Owned By Schools
California State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond revealed a plan last week to build nearly 2.3 million units of affordable housing for teachers on extra land owned by school districts statewide.
The plan aims to address the shortage of teachers and affordable housing in the state by offering units to educators and staff at reasonable prices.
A few school districts, including the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), have built affordable housing for educators and staff. The LAUSD has three developments that offer 185 units. The state is in the process of examining eight potential sites for future housing projects in the school district.
Nick Melvoin, board member of the LAUSD, supported Thurmond’s plan and wants to expand development projects in the school district.
“As stewards of the public trust, and a huge real estate portfolio, and public dollars, I’m a big believer in utilizing what we have for the public,” said Melvoin.
“Taking the land that we have and the (housing) needs that we face, and creating affordable housing for our workforce, just seems like a real no-brainer,” he said.
Thurmond backed the school district’s initiative and wants the state to expand development projects that provide educators and staff with affordable housing options.
“While we are working on strategies to help increase educator pay, building educator housing helps districts work through staffing shortages that threaten the success of our students,” said Thurmond at a press conference July 30.
“We believe this effort is a critical solution for tackling
company expects all corporate functions to migrate to Houston over the next five years. Positions in support of the company’s California operations will remain in San Ramon,” Chevron shared in an Aug. 2 press release.
Assembly minority leader James Gallagher (R-Yuba City) stated that Chevron’s move to Texas is due to Newsom’s failed policies. Gallagher is under the impression that the oil company’s decision to leave the state will have a negative effect on Californians.
“This is an entirely predictable consequence of Gavin Newsom’s constant demonization of the companies California depends on for energy, jobs and tax revenue,” Gallagher stated on Aug 2. “As Californians continue to struggle with the highest gas prices and unemployment of any state in the nation, they know they are paying the price for Newsom’s political stunts. No wonder his approval ratings are at a record low.”
U.C.’s First Black President Michal V. Drake Announces Retirement
The president of the University of California Dr. Michael V. Drake announced last week that he will step down this academic year, after five years of leading the nation’s largest public university. Drake, 74, served as the university’s first Black president in the system’s 150-year history. The UC system enrolls approximately 300,000 students. During his time of service, he led the university through the COVID-19 pandemic, labor strikes, and campus protests.
In his farewell letter, Drake said that serving in the leadership role was, “the honor of a lifetime.”
“I am immensely proud of what the UC community has accomplished,” said Drake in a statement issued July
31.
“At every turn, I have sought to listen to those I served, to uphold our shared UC values, and to do all I could to leave this institution in better shape than it was before. I’m proud to see the University continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of countless Californians through research, teaching, and public service,” he said.
Drake secured a budget increase of 5% annually over five years from the state. The state funding helped the 10-campus university system increase enrollment and make college more accessible to underrepresented students.
Gov. Gavin Newsom recognized the university president for his service and commitment.
“President Drake took the reins of the University of California during the height of the pandemic and has led with grace and vision in the years since,” said Gov. Newsom in a statement.
“He has used his decades of experience to advocate for better access to higher education for all Californians and has always fought for academic excellence,” he said.
California Provides $133 Million for Behavioral Health Bridge Housing
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that the state is investing nearly $133 million into behavioral health bridge housing to help homeless people recover and gain stability.
The state has provided $132.5 million to 10 county behavioral health agencies that are part of the Behavioral Health Bridge Housing (BHBH) Program under the Department of Health Care Services. With state funding, counties can offer temporary safe housing and support services for homeless people transitioning to permanent housing.
The bridge housing program helps local governments address the homelessness crisis and provide services for people dealing with mental health or substance use disorders.
Newsom urged Chairs of California’s Boards of Supervisors to establish conservatorship reform.
“Bridge behavioral health housing is a crucial component of our larger work to meet the needs of Californians experiencing homelessness who have serious mental health or substance use disorder treatment needs and require urgent housing to stabilize and recover,” Newsom said.
The state has partnered with nine counties to implement the Community Assistance, Recovery, and Empowerment Act as part of the CARE Court program. The program provides health service plans and resources for people dealing with untreated psychosis.
Newsom said the program is, “also just a piece of the puzzle for solving our homelessness and behavioral health crises – that’s why our counties must step up and implement conservatorship reform and the CARE Court program. My administration continues to provide local governments with the tools to tackle this crisis head-on –the time for action is now.”
Attorney Gen. Bonta Human Trafficking Taskforce Recovers Victims at San Diego Comic-Con Convention
A human trafficking sting spearheaded by the San Diego Human Trafficking Taskforce (SDHTTF) resulted in 14 arrests and the recovery of 10 victims attending the Comic-Con Convention, authorities stated on July 30. Attorney General Rob Bonta appointed the SDHTTF to recover victims of sex trafficking and target sex buyers that use the San Diego Comic-Con Convention to seek out potential victims. A 16-year-old girl was found among the victims during the sting operation.
The Comic-Con convention has gained international recognition as one of the largest comic book and pop culture events attracting more than 100,000 attendees to San Diego annually.
Bonta said the sting operation was a step in the right direction and served as a warning to sex buyers and potential perpetrators. The task force implemented a threeday sting operation from July 25 through the 27 with law enforcement personnel working as undercover sex buyers to identify and contact potential victims and arrest their traffickers.
“Unfortunately, sex traffickers capitalize on large-scale events such as Comic-Con to exploit their victims for profit,” said Bonta. “These arrests send a clear message to potential offenders that their criminal behavior will not be tolerated.
San Diego Sheriff Kelly Martinez appreciated the task force for identifying and rescuing victims of human trafficking at the convention.
“There is no more insidious crime than human trafficking,” said Sheriff Martinez. “The coercion and violence which enslaves people for profit and places them into forced labor or sex is criminal. As the Sheriff, I support the efforts of all our justice partners in holding perpetrators accountable.”
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Tracking Discrimination in Healthcare: A California Imperative
Rhonda Smith Executive Director CBHN
By Rhonda Smith Special to California Black Media
Having spent more than 25 years advocating for equitable healthcare, I’ve listened to countless stories from individuals whose lives have been forever changed by the historic inequities that exist within our healthcare system. I’ve heard mothers share their heartbreak over traumatic birth experiences and outcomes, and families recount the devastating complications from surgeries. These stories, though deeply personal, often feel like whispers lost in the wind because our current data doesn’t capture the full picture. We know that racism impacts the type of care and quality of care, but without demographic data, we can’t fully understand or address these issues. It’s crucial that we find a way to connect these personal stories to the larger narrative of healthcare equity, ensuring that every patient’s experience is acknowledged, and that there’s transparency and accountability, so that every community’s needs are addressed.
For communities of color, racism in the healthcare system can have a devastating impact, affecting not only the quality of care that patients receive but also their overall wellbeing. Research shows that these communities experience higher rates of patient adverse events -- incidents that cause permanent harm, necessitate life-saving interventions, or potentially lead to death at greater frequencies than White patients. Disturbingly, these trends disproportionately impact Black women and other communities of color.
A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that a third of Americans see racism as a major problem
in health care, compared to over half (52%) of Black people surveyed. Disparities in maternal health outcomes and overall distrust of the medical system are historic and well-documented. According to the California Health Care Foundation’s “Listening to Black Californians” research report, nearly one-third of Black Californians say they have been treated poorly by healthcare providers just because of their race or ethnicity. Additionally, a significant number of Black Californians overall (38%) and of Black women in particular (47%) say there has been a time when a provider did not treat their pain adequately.
While we know this to be true, right now, no demographic information is collected for patients who experience things like negative birth outcomes, surgery complications, patient safety events, or other adverse experiences in hospital settings. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) tracks these events, but doesn’t collect information like the age, race or gender of these patients. As a result, the state doesn’t know who is suffering the most from these avoidable mistakes, and therefore how to prevent them from happening in the future.
This is why we are working in partnership with the California Pan Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), Black Women for Wellness Action Project, and the office of Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) to advance Assembly Bill (AB) 3161, legislation that will seek to collect demographic data on patient complaints and safety incidents. It is our hope that a bill that collects this important demographic data can be a step toward in capturing evidence-based data on racial bias trends in
California’s healthcare system and the impact they have on the safety, health, and well-being of patients. AB 3161 would require the collection of self-reported patient demographics when receiving complaints regarding hospitals and long-term care facilities. It will assist in compiling, reviewing, analyzing, and publishing trends of patient safety events. This bill would also require the publication of adverse event trends based on demographic data in a manner that is consistent with patient confidentiality.
Critics, such as the CDPH, have raised concerns over the cost of updating their forms to accommodate demographic data collection. The department estimates the annual cost for updating, modifying or creating a new system for this demographic data collection could cost at least $1.6 million each year for the first two years. While we appreciate the state’s estimate, the cost of doing nothing, when health and lives are at stake, is far greater. Understanding and addressing health disparities is not just about statistics; it’s about real people with real stories. By collecting demographic data, we take a significant step toward true transparency and accountability in our healthcare system. This will allow us to see the full picture and make informed decisions that can save lives and improve the quality of care for all Californians. Let’s ensure that every patient’s experience is acknowledged, and every community’s needs are addressed, inclusive of their race or ethnicity.
Kamala Harris: 10 Little-Known Facts
About Her Past and Private Life
By Manny Otiko California Black Media
Rumors circulating on social media about Vice President Kamala Harris’s family, interests, politics, temperament, love life, beliefs and more did not begin when President Joe Biden dropped out of the race for the U.S. presidency last month and endorsed her candidacy. However, a steady flow of disinformation has followed that announcement, including questions about her academic achievements. Harris’s life is under the microscope as more facts about her childhood and adult life surface in the national conversation.
As we dig through what’s true and not about the character and past of the woman who could be the next President of the United States, here are 10 little-known facts that give us more insight into her personality, past and private life. Harris is named after the Hindu deity Lakshmi. The name “Kamala” means lotus in Sanskrit. Her immediate family life is culturally diverse and so is her family background. Her mother was from India and her father is from Jamaica. She’s married to Doug Emhoff, who is Jewish. From the ages of 3 to 5, Harris lived on
the west side of Madison, Wisconsin. She also lived in Champaign, Illinois and briefly lived in Canada as a child. Harris is part of a blended family. She is a co-parent to her husband’s two children, who call her “Momala.” Harris’ parenting abilities were praised by Emhoff’s ex-wife. “For over 10 years, since Cole and Ella were teenagers, Kamala
has been a co-parent with Doug and I,” said Kerstin Emhoff in a statement to CNN. “She is loving, nurturing, fiercely protective, and always present. I love our blended family and am grateful to have her in it.” Harris’ stepchildren also called her a “third parent.” Harris has a record for breaking barriers according to Biography.com. She was the first woman district attorney in San Francisco, and the first African American woman to serve as California Attorney General. She’s also the first woman to serve as Vice President. Will she be the first woman to serve as Commander-in-Chief
Harris has activism in her DNA. Her parents took her to civil rights marches when she was a child. According to Harris’ own accounts, she and her sister, Maya, protested their Montreal apartment’s policy of banning children from playing on the lawn. Also, her Indian maternal grandfather was an activist for women’s rights. Harris was born at the height of the civil rights movement and experienced some of the huge societal changes common during that era. She was bused as part of Berkeley Schools’ desegregation program. Harris is a foodie. She sees cooking as a good way to relax. According to Glamour, her mother sparked her
interest in cooking. In 2019, Harris shot a campaign video with Indian American actress Mindy Kaling where they prepared masa dosa.
Although Harris got her start in the Bay Area political scene, she has ties to Southern California and the entertainment industry. She briefly dated former talk show host Montel Williams. When she’s in the Los Angeles area, she stays at her husband’s Brentwood home. Emhoff was an entertainment lawyer. Harris is a Baptist and a Black Greek. One criticism of Harris is that she can’t relate to Black people. However, many of her life experiences have involved important African American cultural and religious organizations. She is a member of a Baptist church, graduated from Howard University, is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA.) During her time as San Francisco DA, Harris instituted the Back on Track initiative. This program expunged young offenders’ records, as long as they performed community service and graduated from high school. The U.S. Department of Justice recognized it as a model reentry program.
