LA 02.21.19 4C

CELEBRATING

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

News Observer Los Angeles

Volume 34 Number 15

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Pan African Film and Arts Festival

By Ricky Richardson Los Angeles-An attentive crowd of designers/ stylist were in the house, i.e., -The Community Room of the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza on Sunday, February 17, 2019. Designer Love Collins moderated a fashion focused discussion on the presence of emerging and Black creatives in fashion. The panel consisted of stylist, retailers and other industry players.

The panel consisted of Tai Beauchamp, Internationally recognized style influencer, public speaker, media personality and entrepreneur, Natalie Harris, The Tiny Closet, Nichole Lynel, Personal Brand and clothing boutique, and Ashley Sean Thomas, Fashion Stylist, Editor at The Style Network.

This wonderful panel was a great segue to the 27th Annual Pan African Film and Arts Festival Fashion Show.

The popular Fashion show was held at the MACY’s Bridge, from 2:00pm-4:00pm. The fashion show was once again produced by a dynamic trio/trifecta of talent in the African American community, Karimu, Ngoma and Deveaux. The lovely, smooth, silky voice Deveaux once again served as the Mistress of Ceremony. Ms. Deveaux is the voice of the Fashion Show.

The fashion show showcases a beautiful, colorful array of designer fashions. The standing room only crowd were in awe of the fabulous creativity on display on the run-way which consisted of clothing’s, jewelry, hats, scarfs, shoes, tote bags and purses. The designers had booths as

part of the ArtFest located throughout the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, February 8-18, 2019.

The pulsating sounds of West African drumming summoned the crowd to MACY’s Bridge for this popular event. Kweli Umoja of The House of Umoja got the show officially underway with a traditional African Libation to acknowledge that we art standing on the shoulders of those who came before us.

Clothing from designer Allohn were the first to be showcased. The show flowed smoothly with a variety of models strutting down the runway. African High Fashions, Aziz Fashion, Amatula Camara, Artistic Flo, Design by DHB, Chikodi’s World, Lola’s Fashion Arrarel, Fashions by Dorothy, West Love Pride Hatz, Okofar, Hair Sox, Akouavi Fashions, Benin Imports, Wilbourn Sisters Designs and Elegant Elephant just to name a few.

Entertainment was provided by Dorsey dancers; spirited dance moves to thrill the crowd. Poet Larry Love recited a timely poem in celebration of Valentine’s Day and a relevant, deep poem commemorating Black History Month.

The fashion show continued with some young models, followed by some comedy by Carmen. They revved it up for the Grand Finale to close the show with a standing ovation.

PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL AWARDS 2019 Continued on page A3

Fashion Show. (courtesy photo)

Governor and President Trump Fight Over Bullet Train Money Cancel the massive “California has been forceD to repay the federal bullet train project and mustNT OUR MONEY bacK government $3.5 billion. WE WA TWEETED LAST WEEK –TRUMP NOW!”

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif.

(AP) – California Gov. Gavin Newsom is sparring with President Donald Trump over $3.5 billion in federal money the state was awarded to build a high-speed rail line between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

California received the money during the Obama administration, and it came with strings attached. The state has already spent $2.9 billion and is working to meet certain deadlines to ensure it doesn’t have to pay it back. They include hitting construction milestones on the Central Valley link and finishing environmental reviews on the full line by 2022.

One of those construction milestones is relocating parts of state Highway 99. State transportation officials are holding a ribbon-cutting for that project Friday, a welltimed demonstration that the project is moving ahead.

Whether California will ever build a bullet train line between San Francisco and Los Angeles was thrown into question Tuesday when in his first State of the State address Newsom said “there simply isn’t a path” for such a route under a current plan that “would cost too much and take too long.” However, he said California will complete the 171-mile high-speed line between Bakersfield and Merced and look for more federal money and private investment.

Later, Newsom’s office said he is committed to completing the longer line.

Trump seized on the issue, tweeting Wednesday that “California has been forced to cancel the massive bullet train project” and must repay the federal government $3.5

Lawmakers who heard Newsom’s speech came away with different interpretations of his plans, as did rail advocates.

“High Speed Rail is coming, it’s being built, it’s part of our landscape now, it’s not going anywhere,” said Democratic Sen. Cathleen Galgiani, the author of the state’s high-speed rail legislation. Republican Sen. Jim Patterson of Fresno, who opposes the project, said the governor essentially admitted the full line can’t be built.

The Rail Passengers Association, an advocacy group in Washington, said Wednesday it appreciated Newsom’s “clarifying” comments that he is “fully committed to building a high-speed rail line between San Francisco and Los Angeles.”

But RL Miller, an executive committee member of the California Democratic Party and a high-speed rail proponent, tweeted that Newsom’s announcement is “a plan to starve the choo choo to death. No one will ride the short segment that will be built.”

Newsom blamed confusion partially on The Associated Press, which ran a one-line news alert Tuesday saying Newsom was abandoning the plan for a line from Los Angeles to San Francisco. The full story included his commitment to the Central Valley line and later added his office’s statement about ultimately building the longer line.

“They just heard the first line and didn’t listen to anything else in the speech,” Newsom told The Los Angeles Times on Thursday.

“This is CALIFORNIA’s money, allocated by Congress for this project. We’re not giving it back”

–CA GOV. NEWSOM TWEETED BACK AT TRUMP billion.

“We want that money back now,” Trump said.

Newsom, a Democrat, made clear he plans to finish the environmental work required to keep the federal money.

“This is CA’s money, allocated by Congress for this project.

We’re not giving it back,” he tweeted back at Trump.

It’s unclear if the federal government could try to get the money returned before the 2022 deadlines. The Federal Railroad Administration, which administers the grants, did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Voters in 2008 approved bonds for a high-speed train that would connect San Francisco and LA. Since then, the costs have more than doubled to $77 billion, and the expected completion date has been pushed back by 13 years to 2033.

Black Girls Have Gone Missing but few seem to care!

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent Victoria Shaw, a Black girl approximately 15 years old, went missing Monday, Feb. 11, in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Teandah Slater, Black and also only 15 years old, was reported missing on Thursday, Feb. 7, from Noble Square in Chicago.

Areall Murchinson, a 16-year old Black girl, was last seen near the 200 block of West 111th Place, according to a community alert from Chicago police.

The three are the most recent to make the dubious and heart-breaking list of missing Black girls – particularly teens.

It’s a list that’s quite long and there remains no update on their status.

Recently, the nonprofit Black & Missing Foundation compiled statistics from the FBI which noted that in 2016 alone, 242,295 individuals of color were reported missing in the United States.

A stunning 36.7 percent of those missing were Black teens under the age of 18.

In total, statistics show more than 75,000 young Black Americans are currently missing.

What’s more, officials at the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s CyberTipline said they’ve received more than 18.4 million reports, most of which led to apparent child sexual abuse images: online enticement (including “sextortion”), child sex trafficking and child sexual molestation.

Those statistics, and the seeming lack of media interest, have led to cries of racism and neglect, particularly when it comes to Black girls.

It has also led La’Tasha D. Mayes to pen the essay, “Why the Crisis of Missing Black Girls Needs More Attention Than It’s Getting.” Mayes’ March 2017 essay was published at Ebony.com where she noted that an academic

FREEEE!!

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Art Event on Black Barbershops Blends Hair History TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – The art of the Afro and high-top fade took center stage Sunday at the Toledo Museum of Art’s GlasSalon during an event to promote the creativity and history of black barbershops and their role in community wellness.

“The Art of the Cut’’ featured live demonstrations from barbers affiliated with a ProMedica initiative that partners with predominantly black barbershops to provide health screenings and education there.

“It gives us an opportunity to display our skills while bringing people together,’’ said barber Corvette Derden, who showed off his talents on stage. “We’re very connected to the community so we brought a lot of people out with us. It’s just an amazing experience.’’

In between cuts showcasing styles from the 1950s through the 2000s, attendees listened to era-appropriate music as well as live performances from barbershop quartet Water.

Sunday’s event was hosted by the museum’s Circle group, which aims to draw in a broader audience through diverse and innovative programs. It is part of a larger effort to showcase the connection between art and wellness, said Alyssa Greenberg, a leadership fellow with the museum.

“We’re celebrating the barbers as artists and it’s because they are artists that they are able to be men’s wellness advocates and to be community leaders,’’ she said. “Their capacity as artists is what garners this trust and respect.’’

African-American men have a higher incidence of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other chronic illnesses than the overall population, and are at higher risk certain cancers and premature death. ProMedica’s program offers health screenings to clients who might not go to the doctor often by embracing the strong social connections that exist in the shops.

Among those attending Sunday’s sold-out event was hair stylist Yolanda Grace, who said she welcomed the “different vibe’’ at the museum.

“I love it,’’ she said. “I think it’s a very creative idea.’’ Grace, 52, who has been doing hair since she was 14, said she’s passionate about hair as a creative outlet.

“Have you ever taken a picture to your stylist and said, `I want this look’? It might be close to the picture, but not exactly,’’ she said. “That’s because that’s her vision, her eye, or his eye. It’s their art.’’

Wonder, Legend Headline Motown Tribute Concert

LOS ANGELES (AP) – Stevie Wonder jammed with his harmonica, John Legend crooned while playing the piano and Ciara pranced onstage dressed like Rick James at Motown Records’ 60th anniversary concert.

Wonder closed out the all-star lineup performing more than a half-dozen songs at the “Motown 60: A Grammy Celebration’’ at the Microsoft Theater on Tuesday night in Los Angeles. The tribute hosted by Smokey Robinson and Cedric the Entertainer will air April 21 on CBS. Motown founder Berry Gordy said he fulfilled his dreams of creating a record label to make music for “all people.’’ The historic African-American label started in 1959 was home to numerous music artists including Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, The Temptations and The Supremes.

The lineup also included Diana Ross, Ne-Yo, Meghan Trainor, Fantasia and Chloe x Halle.

KKK Hoods Found in Denver Yearbook DENVER (AP) – A review of Denver-area yearbooks in recent decades found photos of students wearing Ku Klux Klan-style hoods for several years at one suburban high school and students in blackface and Nazi garb at the University of Colorado in the 1960s.

The Denver Post reports that students in football jerseys were shown wearing the hoods in the 1978, 1979 and 1980 yearbooks at Arapahoe High School in Littleton. Both the school district and the university denounced the images as wrong then and today.

The president of the NAACP’s State Conference for Colorado, Montana and Wyoming, Rosemary Lytle, says she was “pretty shocked’’ that that kind of racist symbolism appeared in a Colorado yearbook as recently as the late 1970s.

Arapahoe High students from the time say those responsible were known for being pranksters.

Man Blames Tea for Failing Drug Test

15-year old Victoria Shaw went missing Monday, Feb. 11, in West Hartford, Connecticut. Teandah Slater, who is also only 15-years old, was reported missing on Thursday, Feb. 7, from Noble Square in Chicago. 28year old Amber Evans disappeared in 2015 and is still missing.

study analyzed news coverage of missing children and found that only 20 percent of reported stories focused on missing Black children. This, despite the fact that Black children account for 33 percent of total missing children cases.

“In other words, missing Black youth are grossly underreported in the news. For missing girls, it’s even

worse. When Black girls go missing, far too many people don’t know or don’t care,” Mayes wrote.

Many argue that the stories of young Black girls and women who are missing don’t get the same degree of local, national and global attention as that of an Elizabeth Smart or Natalee Holloway.

Continued on page A2

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – A Florida firefighter fired for a positive drug test got his job back after arguing the cocaine in his system was from a tea made with coca leaves.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that public records show firefighter Kevin Reynolds told investigators he brought a box of coca tea home after hiking Machu Picchu in Peru. The tea is used in South America to fight off altitude sickness.

The Orlando Fire Department fired Reynolds in early 2018 after he tested positive for drugs during an annual physical exam.

Reynolds and the union representing Orlando’s firefighters argued the department did not follow its testing procedures.

The city and Reynolds settled the case last week, agreeing to drop arbitration proceedings and rescinding Reynolds’ termination.

A2

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, February 21, 2019

World & Nation

Black Boys Need Rites of Passage Programs

By Roger Caldwell 2019 is important to African American Men because the opportunities are boundless and amazing. If you can conceive it, you can achieve it. The only barriers holding Black men back are preparation, knowledge and education.

The challenge for Black men is Black manhood.

There are many different definitions of manhood, but to be Black and a man is a unique and special position in the United States and the world. Black men come in different sizes and shapes, with individual skillsets, mindsets, ideas, thoughts, visions, and beliefs. Our diversity is our gift to the globe — and we will be first, not last.

The power and fear of the Black man will no longer be curtailed or controlled by racism. Racial bias is being fought in the courts, businesses, sports and entertainment in America and around the world. When Black men start loving each other and working together, communities will change and they will take leadership roles in families, America and the world.

There are Black role models in the communities and the Black media has a responsibility to tell positive and powerful stories of Black men and women who are making a positive difference every day. The emphasis for Black men is to bring attention on the necessity for mentors, to help Black boys narrow the achievement gap in the country.

The fundamental problem for Black boys raised in America is that 70% of Black families are run by a single parent: a woman. African Americans make up about 35% of all children raised in the bottom 1% of the income level and distribution. From the very beginning of life, Black males start with a financial disadvantage and one out of every three ends up in prison.

The system is set up for Black males to fail, and it is extremely difficult to climb from the bottom to the top.

“It’s not just being Black but being male that has been hyper-stereotyped in this negative way, in which we’ve

The only way Black boys will learn to be Black men is that they must be taught by Black men. (Photo: iStockphoto/ NNPA)

made Black men scary, intimidating, with a propensity toward violence,” said Noelle Hurd, a psychology professor at the University of Virginia.

In 2019, there is a call to action for all Black men to be fathers to all Black boys in the communities. “Black boys and young adults who face an opportunity gap but have a mentor are 55% more likely to be enrolled in college than those who did not have a mentor. In addition, mentees are 46% less likely than their peers to start using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start drinking,” says Dr. Brian Agard, My Brother’s Keeper Lead and Minority Achievement Office – Orange County Public Schools.

Black men can no longer wait for the system and the schools to educate Black boys, they must be engaged and involved from the very beginning. Dr. Agard’s goal in the Orange County Public School (OCPS) system is to recruit 1,000 mentors in 2019, and there are other organizations and fraternities that have after-school mentoring programs in Orlando and Central Florida.

The only way Black boys will learn to be Black men is that they must be taught by Black men.

The ultimate goal for Black boys to become Black men is through months and years of studying the rites of passage. The ultimate goal of the rites of passage is to develop greater leadership roles for the youth and the younger Black boys in the Black communities. By teaching Black boys critical thinking and to understand themselves and the world around them, they will determine what it means to be a man and a leader.

Through an intensive process of self-reflection, community and global analysis and understanding of their individual beliefs and goals, Black boys will become men. As older young brothers have completed the rites of passage, they will help recruit younger Black boys and instead of Black boys/men killing each other they will start working to improve their community and spread love.

Video Series Tells Forgotten History of Memphis

By Lee Eric Smith lesmith@tsdmemphis.com As we here at The New Tri-State Defender pause to reflect on African-American History Month, my own journey has brought me to make these bold recommendations to the Shelby County School Board and interim Superintendent Joris Ray: There should be a class called “The History of Memphis.”

This class should be mandatory.

This class should have ZERO textbooks and should be taught on foot, out in the city.

This came into stark relief for me as I began working on our new TSD video series “History: Hidden in Plain Sight.” Over the course of February (and maybe beyond), we’ll bring you short video clips of historic places you drive or walk by every day – places that have profound historic implications that go overlooked all the time. We published the first one, “The People’s Grocery,” on Feb. 5.

For me, this journey literally started in the TSD offices.

Like many newspapers, we have replicas of early editions of our paper on display around the office. No surprise, there are some with stories about Dr. Martin Luther King; I saw one story about black G.I.s returning from Vietnam. It was what happened on March 30, 1968 that caught my attention.

Most of history recognizes that day for the march that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. attempted down Main Street, in support of the 1968 sanitation strike. When protesters got rowdy, King was quickly spirited away, to avoid controversy. But that’s not the story I saw on the wall at the TSD. Just a few blocks away from King’s attempted march, at the intersection of Wellington and Linden, was a bar/ diner called “The Big M.” Located at what’s now known as Martin Luther King Avenue and Danny Thomas Boulevard, The Big M was where many of Memphis’ white-collar working class came to wind down.

But on this day – the same day of King’s failed march – it was a nightmare.

Unannounced and apparently unprovoked, Memphis police stormed The Big M with nightsticks in hand – kicking butt and not worrying with names. The TSD offices were so close that a badly beaten man collapsed on

the steps of the newspaper.

The Big M is long gone now, replaced by the grassy lawn of Pentecostal COGIC, which overlooks another historic landmark, the Universal Life Insurance Building.

Things change.

But that brings me back to my bold recommendations: “The History of Memphis” should be mandatory for all SCS students. And when students enter that class, they should be exiting a tour bus.

Too often, history is simply a subject in school, just another thing to memorize so students can (hopefully) pass a test. And we spend so much time and energy teaching kids about ancient events in faraway places, yet so little teaching about what happened down the street or across town.

Which is why the class needs to be taught on foot.

On the printed page – or on historical markers, for that matter, the stories are just words. But when you actually GO and SEE these historical places for yourself, the history just comes alive. You learn about the lesser-known people and events that led to the major events. You begin to see yourself in the story. And you start to understand WHY things are the way they are.

That’s what we’re trying to do with this series.

Do you know what the curriculum was at The University of West Tennessee? Did you even know there WAS a University of West Tennessee?

Or imagine a dispute among children playing a game escalating into a lynch mob that killed one of your closest friends and two others – essentially for being successful businessmen. How far would you go for justice for your friend? And what if your pursuit of justice put your own life at risk?

If those scenarios don’t seem familiar to you, stay tuned – those are the topics of the first two clips in our series. No spoilers here – you’ll have to watch. Visit www. tri-statedefender.com or check out www.youtube.com/ tristatedefender for those stories and the others we’ll be telling in the coming weeks.

Working on this project has introduced me to a fascinating paradox. Other than historical markers, there’s nothing left to acknowledge the existence of People’s Grocery or The University of West Tennessee or so many

learn more >

With “History: Hidden in Plain Sight,” TSD’s Lee Eric Smith takes you inside the history of Memphis and the Mid-South that many Memphians pass by every day.

other historic sites around town.

These historic markers were erected to ensure that these places and events are not forgotten. And yet they go largely ignored, blending into the background of our daily commute, along with the “We Buy Houses” signs and billboards from lawyers with catchy jingles. It’s right there;

we’re just not paying attention.

If we do this right, you won’t see these markers the same way again – and maybe you’ll get curious enough to do some research of your own. You might even find yourself slowing down just a tad, to observe the history you’ve been zipping past all along. History – hidden in plain sight.

Black Women & Girls Have Gone Missing Continued from page A1

BORN TO BE GREAT To be ready for the jobs of the future, students need learning experiences that meet them where they are, engage them deeply, let them progress at a pace that meets their individual needs, and helps them master the skills for today and tomorrow. To learn more about ESSA and how you can get involved, visit www.nnpa.org/essa.

Made possible by a grant from the

© 2018 National Newspaper Publishers Association. All rights reserved

Smart, a 14-year-old white girl, was kidnapped in 2002 from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. After an intense search that included relentless media coverage, Smart was rescued by police nine months later and, among other activities, she’s become an analyst for ABC News.

Holloway disappeared in 2005 while on a high school graduation trip in Aruba.

The white Alabama teen’s story drew global media coverage and, although her remains were never found, she was declared dead in 2010.

Many maintain that African Americans aren’t afforded the intense police investigations or the media coverage given to whites that go missing.

“Black girls are magical and should be noticed, uplifted and acknowledged, both within and outside of the Black community,” said Ginger Lavender Wilkerson, a licensed marriage and family therapist in Los Angeles.

“To recognize Black girls as magical means defining them as precious, unique and valued. When society recognizes their worth and value, I believe that more attention will be paid to this matter. In addition, it will call for all people to recognize this as an epidemic and cause for action,” Wilkerson said.

Child Rights activist Katerina Canyon said she’s been researching cases of missing Black girls for years and there are several unknowns, including that many go missing without any witnesses. “This leads me to believe that the kidnappers are either very good at what they’re doing, or the girls left on their own,” Canyon said.

“We need to make sure black girls have readily accessible help from adults in a safe environment such that they do not fall victim to homelessness or trafficking. A lot of times, with the proper interventions, we can prevent black girls from leaving home or falling prey to traffickers,” she said.

The mystery of the disappearances also has heightened since 2016 when Donald Trump won the presidency and the subsequent rise in nationalism and white supremacy.

Some of the disappearances have proven more suspicious than others. A recent report highlighted the case of Amber Evans, who disappeared in 2015. Evans had been a key player and driving force behind state and local juvenile justice reform in Ohio – work for which she’d been rewarded when the organization she worked for, the Juvenile Justice Coalition, put her in charge.

In a Facebook post on her first day as executive director, Evans, 28, displayed her track and field medals.

“Ohio is for champions and I used to be something of a track star,” Evans wrote.

“Wearing my old medals before starting day 1 as executive director of the Juvenile Justice Coalition was a nice reminder of that.”

Three weeks later, Evans disappeared.

Her car was found, purse in the trunk, her last known whereabouts, a stop at the pharmacy. Her last known words, a text to her mother saying, “I love you and I’m sorry.”

“There never seemed to be a sense of urgency for our missing African American girls,” said Nashima Harvey, an educator and founder of Girls of Decision, a youth empowerment group that seeks to assist girls in making better choices in all stages of their lives.

“The sad thing that I have encountered has been that many of the young girls I have interacted with on my journey are young women who were former human trafficked young ladies,” Harvey said.

“These women went missing at the ages of 12 to 14 and are now adults living in toxic situations looking for a better life and all seemed to feel no longer welcomed by their family. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this population, but I do believe that we need to be diligent and outspoken when it comes to saving our girls,” she said.

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Thursday, February 21, 2019

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

PUBLIC NOTICE

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE FOR CHANGE OF NAME CASE NUMBER 18TRCP00073 Superior Court of the State of California, for the county of LOS ANGELES, 825 Maple Ave, Torrance, Ca 90503 Southwest PETITION OF: MAGDALENA MARFIONE FOR CHANGE OF NAME TO ALL INTERESTED PERSONS: Petitioner: MAGDALENA MARFIONE for a decree changing names as follows: Present name MAGDALENA MARFIONE Filed a petition with this court Proposed name MIGDALA ENNIS THE COURT ORDERS: that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted if no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING Date: Mar 1, 2019 Time: 8:30 a.m.

Dept: B The address of the court is: Same as noted above.

A copy of this Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once a week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation, printed in this county LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER Date: Dec 18, 2018 ERIC C. TAYLOR Judge of the Superior Court MAGDALENA MARFIONE, 2510 Monterey St #3021 Torrance, CA 90510-0402 Phone: (424) 271-0106 Self-represented LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Jan 31, Feb 7, 14, 21, 2019 ������������������������������� NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF JAMES R COOK CASE NUMBER: 17 STPB09987 To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of JAMES R COOK A PETITION FOR PROBATE has been filed by CHRISTOPHER N COOK in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles 111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 THE PETITION FOR PROBATE requests that CHRISTOPHER N COOK be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

THE PETITION requests the decedent’s will and codicils, if any, be admitted to probate. The will and any codicils are available for examination in the file kept by the court.

THE PETITION requests authority to administer the estate under the independent Administration of Estates Act. (This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval. Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.)

The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to

the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A HEARING on the petition will be held in this court as follows: Date: Mar 12, 2019 Time: 8:30 a.m. Dept: 4 located at 111 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012 IF YOU OBJECT to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

IF YOU ARE A CREDITOR or a contingent creditor of the deceased, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within four months from the date of first issuance of letters as provided om Probate Code section 9100. The time for filing claims will not expire before four months from the hearing date noticed above.

YOU MAY EXAMINE the file kept by the court. IF you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a Request for Special Notice (for DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate code section 1250.

A request for Special Notice form is available from the court clerk.

Attorney for petitioner: MICHAEL A YOUNGE, 170929 Law Office of Michael A Younge, 180 N Riverview Dr, #210 Anaheim Hills, CA 92808 Telephone: (714) 242-4027 Fax: (714) 276-1443 E-Mail: youngelaw@aol.com LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 7, 14, 21, 2019 ������������������������������� FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT FILE NO: 2019 030051 The following person(s) is (are) doing business as: ROSE BAKERY at 606-608 Imperial St, Los Angeles, Ca. 90021 Mailing Address: 443 Park Ave S 3rd Floor New Yor, NY 10016 County: LA COUNTY REGISTERED OWNERS(S): DOVER STREET MARKET LA LLC, 443 Park Ave S 3rd Floor New York, NY 10016 The business is conducted by: Limited Liability Company SIGNED: ELAINE BEUTHER, Manager The date registrant started to transact business under the fictitious business name or names listed above: N/A This statement filed with the County Clerk of Kern County on: Feb 5, 2019 DEAN C. LOGAN, Registar-Recorder/County Clerk County Clerk By: Teresa Guevedo, Deputy NOTICE: IN ACCORDNACE WITH SUBDIVISION (a) OF SECTION 17920, A FICTITIOUS NAME STATEMENNT GENERALLY EXPIRES ST THE END IOF FIVE YEARS FROM THE DATE OF WHICH IT WASFILED IN THEOFFICE OF THE COUNTY CLERK EXCEPT, AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION (b) OF SECTION 17920, WHERE IT EXPIRES 40 DAYS AFTER ANY CHANGE IN THE FACTS SET FORTH IN THE STATEMENTN PURSUANT TO SECTION 17913 OTHER THAN A CHANGE IN THE RESIDENCE ADDRESS OF A REGISTERED OWNER. A NEW FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE FILED BEFORE THE EXPIRATION. EFFICTIVE JANUARY 1, 2014, THE FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY THE AFFIDAVIT OF INDENTITY FORM. This statement expires on LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Feb 21, 28, Mar 7, 14, 2019

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A3

Features

Pan African Film & Arts Fest

Ashley Sean Thomas, Nichole Lynel, Natalie Harris and Tai Beauchamp. (Courtesy photo) Continued on page A1

The Pan African Film and Arts Festival Announced Filmmaker Award Winners during the annual Filmmakers Award Brunch, Monday, February 18, 2019 at MACY’s Bridge in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza.

Best Narrative Feature Sprinter (Jamaica) Directed by Storm Saulter

Honorable Mention: Ellen (South Africa) Directed by Daryne Joshua Best First Feature Narrative Skin in the Game (US) Directed by Adisa Honorable Mention: Veronica’s Wish (Uganda) Directed by Rehema Nanfuka

Best Feature Documentary Mr. Soul! (US) Directed by Melissa Haizlip Honorable Mention: Oliver Tambo Have You Heard from Johannesburg (South Africa/Netherlands/ UK/US) Directed by Connie Field Best Short Documentary 120 Years (US) Directed by Matt Nadel & Lukas Cox Honorable Mention: The Infamous Future (US) Directed by Richard Butterworth Best Short Narrative Twelfth Round (Australia) Directed by Nir Shelter Honorable Mention: Time 2 Surrender, Directed by Elvis Nolasco PAFF Programmers’ Award-Narrative Short The Fisherman (Ghana) Directed by Zoey Martinson PAFF Programmers’ Award - Documentary Short Sincerely, The Black Kids (US) Directed by Miles Iton PAFF Programmers’ Award - Documentary Feature Blue Note Records: Beyond the Notes (UK) Directed

by Sophie Huber & Boss: The Black Experience in Business (US) Directed

by Stanley Nelson PAFF Programmers’ Award - Narrative Feature Lara and the Beat (Nigeria) Directed by Tosin Coker PAFF Directors’ Award - Feature Documentary Oliver Tambo: Have You Heard from Johannesburg (South Africa/Netherlands/ UK/US) Directed by Connie Field PAFF Directors’ Award - Feature Narrative Nine Nights (UK) Veronica McKenzie PAFF Directors’ Award - Narrative Short Bail (UK) Directed by Kwame Lestrade PAFF Directors’ Award - Documentary Short Power to Heal (US) Directed by Charles Burnett & Daniel Loewenthal Audience Award - Short Documentary Bakosó: Afrobeats de Cuba (US) Directed by Eli Jacobs-Fantauzzi Audience Audience Award - Narrative Short Pas Honteux (US) Directed by John D. Tucker Award - Documentary Feature Ali’s Comeback: The Untold Story (US) Directed by Art L. Jones Audience Award - Narrative Feature Rattlesnakes (UK/US) Directed by Julius Amedume

Ethnically Diverse US Cities

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire National Correspondent With immigration reform remaining one of the most prominent political issues, suggesting that the U.S. demographic landscape may soon change, the personalfinance website WalletHub released its report on 2019’s Most & Least Ethnically Diverse Cities.

To identify the most ethnically diverse places in America, WalletHub compared more than 500 of the largest U.S. cities across three key metrics: ethno-racial diversity, linguistic diversity and birthplace diversity.

Oakland, California, has the highest racial and ethnic diversity than any other city in the country, a figure that’s four times higher than in Hialeah, Florida, the city with the lowest.

Meanwhile, Hialeah enjoys the highest concentration of Hispanics or Latinos, at 96.44 percent while Laconia, New Hampshire has the highest concentration of whites, at 94.81 percent.

Jackson, Mississippi has the highest concentration of blacks, at 81.44 percent.

Jersey City, NJ; Gaithersburg, Md.; Germantown, Md.; Silver Spring, Md. and Spring Valley, Nevada were the most ethnically diverse cities in America according to the study.

New York City, Oakland, San Jose, Ca.; Rockville, Md. and Kent, Washington also made the top 10.

Barre, Vermont; Clarksburg, West Virginia;

Watertown, South Dakota; Parkersburg, West Virginia; and Hialeah, Florida, comprised the rest of the 10 least ethnically diverse cities.

Rutland, Vermont; Wheeling, West Virginia; Laconia, New Hampshire; Miles City, Montana and Bennington, Vermont, were identified as the five least ethnically diverse cities.

Havre, Montana; had the highest concentration of residents who spoke English (98.57 percent), while Hileah, Florida found itself at the opposite end with just 5.59 percent of its residents speaking English (93.96 percent of Hileah residents speak Spanish and just 0.33 percent of those in Havre speak Spanish).

For birthplace diversity (locations where residents continue to reside long after they were born) Greenville, Mississippi topped every city with 86.79 percent, while Hilton Head Island, S.C., came in last at 16.80 percent.

New York (69.40 percent) is the most diverse large city, Jersey City counts as the most diverse mid-size city and Gaithersburg, Md., is the most diverse small city in America, according to the report.

“A growing body of social psychological research suggests that information about increasing ethnic diversity can lead white Americans to express greater concerns about their ethnic group’s status and, further, these concerns can have implications for interethnic attitudes as well as political attitudes,” said Dr. Maureen Craig, a WalletHub expert and assistant professor in the

Department of Psychology at New York University.

“For example, prior research has found that viewing a media report detailing increases in national ethnic diversity can lead white Americans to express ethnic bias, support more exclusionary political stances, and express greater concerns about anti-white discrimination,” Craig said.

“However, an important caveat is that these experiments all focus on what happens when white Americans are asked to anticipate ethnic demographic change,” she said.

There are many benefits to a diverse, multicultural city some of which are being exposed to different neighborhoods, communities, culture, parks and restaurants, said Dr. Kwame Dixon, a WalletHub expert and an assistant professor of African American Studies in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

“In most cases a diverse cultural setting leads to some common boundaries of understanding. The social citizen of the 21st century must be being exposed to multiple cultural settings and environments,” Dixon said.

If diversity becomes a smokescreen for displacement or gentrification or if a historically black or Latino community is diversified in a short period of time by newcomers defined as white then there will be tensions around space, identity and displacement, he said.

“This may lead to other tensions – former residents being pushed to the margins or to poorer communities,” Dixon said.

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Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the NAACP led the Black civil rights struggle in fighting injustices such as the denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment, and segregated public facilities.

110 Years of Fighting for Freedom

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People – NAACP – was founded 110 years ago after a deadly race riot rocked the city of Springfield, Illinois. “Because of the riots in Springfield, that brought about serious conversations and meetings about starting an organization, a national organization, that would try to address racial issues,” said Nell Clay, Springfield and central Illinois African American History Museum president.

The Springfield race riots took place in August of 1908.

Today, the NAACP remains the foremost civil rights organization in the world with an overriding mission: equality for all.

“There were two African Americans in jail, one accused of rape and one accused of murder,” Clay said. “A mob came to the jail to do their own justice by lynching the individuals.”

Several lives were lost and property was destroyed during the race riot. But at the time, there had been race riots throughout the nation, according to the local Fox affiliate near Chicago.

So why did the Springfield race riots lead to the formation of the NAACP? “Because Springfield was the land of Lincoln – the individual that freed the slaves,” Clay said. “Maybe there was a thought that this was a great place for African Americans to live.”

Once the riots were over, discussions began for a necessary organization.

“People got together around the country, especially throughout Illinois, and said again enough is enough. You need to meet and form an organization that will deal with race in America because race riots were unacceptable,” said Teresa Haley, president of the Illinois NAACP chapter.

Several scholars officially founded the NAACP in New York on February 12, 1909.

Throughout its history, the NAACP has fought to meet the objectives of people of color and have kept to their main goals and principles including: • To ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of all citizens • To achieve equality of rights and eliminate race prejudice among the citizens of the United States • To remove all barriers of racial discrimination through democratic processes • To seek enactment and enforcement of federal, state, and local laws securing civil rights • To inform the public of the adverse effects of racial discrimination and to seek its elimination • To educate persons as to their constitutional rights and to take all lawful action to secure the exercise thereof, and to take any other lawful action in furtherance of these objectives, consistent with the NAACP’s Articles of Incorporation and this Constitution.

• During its 110th anniversary observance, the NAACP has recognized its founders.

• Founding member William Walling authored, “The Race War in the North,” an article detailing the Springfield race riot.

• Founding member W.E.B. Du Bois served as the NAACP director of publicity and research from 1910-1934, and was a member of the board of directors, and founder and editor of “The Crisis Magazine,” which continues to serve as a source of news and information from an African American perspective.

• In her years at the NAACP Rosa Parks

worked specifically as a criminal justice and sexual assault investigator. In 1944 she lead the investigation into the rape of Recy Taylor.

• Founding member Ida B. Wells was an investigative journalist and educator. A pioneer in the antilynching movement, Wells dedicated much of her life’s work to the cause and published extensive research on the psychological implications of lynching.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the NAACP led the Black civil rights struggle in fighting injustices such as the denial of voting rights, racial violence, discrimination in employment, and segregated public facilities.

From 1920 to 1950, the NAACP focused on five major areas: anti-lynching legislation, voter participation, employment, due process under the law, and education, according to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C. At yearly conventions in different cities around the country, it drew attention to regional needs and interests and encouraged nationwide participation.

Thurgood Marshall grew up in a nurturing African American community in segregated Baltimore.

After graduating from all-black Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, he enrolled in Howard University’s law school. In 1934, he began practicing law in his hometown and immediately was drawn into the local civil rights movement.

In 1938, Marshall took over the leadership of the NAACP legal team from his mentor Charles Hamilton Houston.

A year later, he established the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund to car

A4

Entertainment LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Chicago Police Announce “Shift” in Investigation Regarding Jussie Smollett Case Confusion

By Laruen Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor On the night of February 16, the Chicago Police Department announced that their investigation into the alleged hate attack on actor Jussie Smollett had “shifted.” The actor was allegedly attacked by two men in the early morning hours of January 29 in Chicago. Smollett has been a star on the FOX Television show “Empire.”

On February 17, an attorney for Smollett said he the actor was “angered and devastated by recent reports” stating that the police were changing their theory of the case to the direction of an “orchestrated” hate attack. Unsubstantiated rumors swirled that the two suspects arrested in the crime provided evidence to the investigators that contributed to the change in direction on the part of the investigators.

“We can confirm that the information received from the individuals questioned by police earlier in the Empire case has in fact shifted the trajectory of the investigation,” Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi confirmed in a statement. “We’ve reached out to the Empire cast member’s attorney to request a follow-up interview,” he added.

Smollett’s response to rumor that the attack was staged

was pointed.

“As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” Smollett stated through his attorneys.

“One of these purported suspects was Jussie’s personal trainer who he hired to ready him physically for a music video,” the statement continues. “It is impossible to believe that this person could have played a role in the crime against Jussie or would falsely claim Jussie’s complicity. At the present time, Jussie and his attorneys have no inclination to respond to ‘unnamed’ sources inside of the investigation, but will continue discussions through official channels.”

“While we haven’t found any video documenting the alleged attack, there is also no evidence to say that this is a hoax,” Chicago Police spokesman Guglielmi told reporters.

“The alleged victim is being cooperative at this time and continues to be treated as a victim, not a suspect,” he added.

Several reports claim that Smollett offered to pay two

Nigerian models, Abimbola “Abel” and Olabinjo “Ola” Osundairo, $4,000 to stage the January 29 assault. Those reports are unconfirmed.

Lauren Victoria Burke is an independent journalist

and writer for NNPA as well as a political analyst and strategist as Principal of Win Digital Media LLC. She may be contacted at LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

“As a victim of a hate crime who has cooperated with the police investigation, Jussie Smollett is angered and devastated by recent reports that the perpetrators are individuals he is familiar with. He has now been further victimized by claims attributed to these alleged perpetrators that Jussie played a role in his own attack. Nothing is further from the truth and anyone claiming otherwise is lying.” Smollett stated through his attorneys.

“Coaching (the Express), one after the other, it’s outstanding. Everything I want to do is coaching and meeting and developing (players) and I’m excited about that,” says Mike Singletary.

Mike Singletary: Express Yourself NFL Settles

Colin Kaepernick(MARCIO JOSE SANCHEZ/AP/REX/SHUTTERSTOCK photo caption)

The New Tri-State Defender NFL Hall of Famer Mike Singletary knew exactly what he wanted to do after he retired from playing the game he loved. After a legendary 12-year career with the Chicago Bears — including the celebrated 1985 Super Bowl champion squad — Singletary knew he wanted to coach. Like, really badly.

“When I retired, I knew I would coach,” said Singletary, who will be barking plays as head coach of

“When I retired, I knew I would coach,” said Singletary, who will be barking plays as head coach of the Memphis Express, one of eight startup teams in the Alliance of American Football. the Memphis Express, one of eight startup teams in the Alliance of American Football.

Singletary retired as a player in 1992 but didn’t take his first gig as a linebacker’s coach for the Baltimore Ravens until 11 years later, in 2003.

So why the gap? That’s easy, Singletary said. Like most successful men, he knows when to listen to his wife.

“I asked a few coaches I really respected, ‘How do you become a great husband, a great father and a great coach?’”

Singletary told The New Tri-State Defender in an exclusive interview. “And they all said, ‘Mike, make sure you’ve got a great wife. Because you’re not going to be there. You’re going to be coaching that team.’”

Having grown up in what he described as a “broken home,” the option of being away from his children was not an option at all. So instead, he occupied himself with business ventures, carving out a nice career as a consultant on leadership and business development. Until one day, he came home to find his wife in tears.

“She said, ‘Mike, you’re not going to want to hear this, but it’s time to start coaching,’” Singletary smiled. “She knows me. She knows me better sometimes than I know myself.

She knows that that’s what I love.

“She was like, ‘Mike, we’ll work it out,’” continued Singletary, 60. “‘The kids know you. I certainly know you.

And you’re driving me crazy here at the house, doing all types of projects. But it’s time. It’s time to do what God called you to do.’”

Since then, Singletary has been an assistant coach for multiple NFL teams and even had a one-season run as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in 2009. His last NFL coaching gig was as a defensive assistant with the L.A. Rams in 2016.

Then, in the fall of 2017, Singletary had a conversation with celebrated former NFL executive and analyst Bill Polian. “I told him that one day, I’m going to be one of the greatest coaches of all time,” Singletary said.

The conversation must have stuck with Polian. In March 2018, Polian co-founded the AAF along with TV

producer Charlie Ebersol, the son of NFL broadcast legend Dick Ebersol. Polian called Singletary to gauge his interest in signing on. It meant that he’d have to leave behind his new job as coach at Texas Christian Academy. Singletary accepted.

“Coaching high school was fantastic,” Singletary said. “Coaching (the Express), one after the other, it’s outstanding. Everything I want to do is coaching and meeting and developing (players) and I’m excited about that.”

Fast forward to an uncommonly balmy February day at Liberty Bowl Stadium. Singletary is putting his squad through their paces in preparation for the franchise’s debut, an away game against the Birmingham Iron. Kickoff is Sunday at 3 p.m., with the Express making their Memphis debut on Feb. 16 against the Arizona Hotshots.

Memphis has seen its share of startup pro football leagues – the USFL’s Memphis Showboats in the 1980s and more recently, the Memphis Maniax of the doomed XFL league in 2003. But the AAF comes to Memphis wellfunded, with a stream of former NFL players, coaches and executives adding a certain cachet to the enterprise.

But the AAF will have a few new wrinkles that officials hope will mean both eyeballs and money. For one, in addition to a national TV deal with CBS, the Express just announced a local deal with Nexstar Media Group that means CW30 will broadcast three games.

“In crafting this deal we were looking to create a reliable home that offers our fans comfort and familiarity,” said Kosha Irby, Memphis Express team president. “We’re going to rely on Nexstar to help us grow our regional footprint and enhance our exposure with their proven ability to broadcast a quality product.”

But that’s not all. Thanks to an exclusive gaming deal with MGM Resorts International, fans will also be able to watch – and wager – on games via the AAF app. Using cutting-edge motion tracking sensors and hyper-fast data processing, fans can place “in-game” bets on players in virtual real time – enabling such wagers as whether the Express will get a first down on the next play, or how many yards a running back will have by halftime.

And far from an adversarial relationship with the NFL, the AAF is embracing the fact that some of its players – and maybe some of its coaches – may be scooped up by the NFL. Singletary is just fine with that.

“As a coach, it’s my dream and hope that most of these young men, because of what we’re going to teach them, that the NFL will be hungry for a guy on our team – because they know what they’re getting,” he said. “Not only will they be getting a better athlete, they’ll get a young man who respects authority and (teams) can move forward with that.”

And if an NFL team comes calling looking for a new head coach?

“All I’m going to do is my best, and wherever that leads me, I’m good with that,” Singletary said.

In the meantime, there’s football to play right here in Memphis. What should fans expect out of springtime pro football in Memphis?

“We’re just seeking to make you proud,” Singletary said. “We just want people to be proud of the product we put out here on the field. So, come out and support us.”

Collusion Case with Kaepernick

The settlement comes just one day after it was revealed that the former San Francisco 49er, who led the team to a Super Bowl in 2013, turned down a contract offer to play in a new developmental league

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Correspondent Colin Kaepernick’s more than two year battle with the NFL has come to an end.

The former NFL quarterback and the league have reached a financial settlement in Kaepernick’s collusion complaint against football’s owners.

The settlement comes just one day after it was revealed that the former San Francisco 49er, who led the team to a Super Bowl in 2013, turned down a contract offer to play in a new developmental league.

Terms of the settlement, which also included a payout to Carolina Panthers star safety Eric Reid, were not made public.

Kaepernick was effectively blacklisted from the league after kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and other social ills.

Yahoo Sports reported that Kaepernick and Reid would only settle the complaint if a lucrative financial agreement was reached between the players and the NFL. The league and Kaepernick’s attorneys released a statement Friday saying the matter had been resolved confidentially.

As part of that confidentiality, it is believed both sides signed a non-disclosure agreement agreeing not to speak publicly about details of the case or settlement.

“For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL,” the statement said.

“As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution

of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party.”

The agreement comes as Kaepernick’s case against the NFL was to set to be heard before arbitrator Stephen Burbank later this month.

Kaepernick had alleged that since 2016, the league conspired to keep him out.

Multiple NFL players adopted Kaepernick’s protest in 2017, hoping to draw attention to social justice and racial inequality issues.

The actions sparked a political firestorm from President Donald Trump and the furor became such a central issue for the league for nearly one year that it instituted a rule that banned protests during the national anthem.

That rule has since been shelved by the NFL and now appears to be dead, according to the Yahoo Sports report.

The NFLPA also released a statement Friday, supporting the settlement between the league and players.

“Today, we were informed by the NFL of the settlement of the Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid collusion cases,” the NFLPA said.

“We are not privy to the details of the settlement but support the decision by the players and their counsel. We continuously supported Colin and Eric from the start of their protests, participated with their lawyers throughout their legal proceedings and were prepared to participate in the upcoming trial in pursuit of both truth and justice for what we believe the NFL and its clubs did to them.

“We are glad that Eric has earned a job and a new contract [from the Carolina Panthers], and we continue to hope that Colin gets his opportunity as well.”

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Thursday, February 21, 2019

LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER A5

Sports

Did the NFL Pay Kaepernick and Reid for Their Silence?

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com Since he took a knee in a meaningless Pre-Season game in 2016, just mentioning the name of Colin Kaepernick invokes many of the deepest of emotions from any and everyone in this country. Regardless of your position on his personal protest of the injustices and discrimination, which is rampant in this country. I have along with many others commend Colin for standing strong on his conviction.

While others were ready to ready to crucify him for his attempt to make the world a better place. The largest group of distain came from those who choose to twist his reasoning for his personal protest.

As the San Francisco 49ers were dealing with their postSuperbowl regression from their Superbowl appearance in 2012, they were severely impacted by the dismissal of their Head Coach, the retirement of All-Pro Bowl players and the lack of leadership in the front office. Like it is with most teams in the NFL, the Quarterback often gets too much credit for a team’s wins and conversely, they often get to much blame when said team losses. This was not much different in the case of the 49ers and Colin Kaepernick.

Though discrimination and injustices have hindered this country for multiple decades now. That recent string of shootings and killings that gripped the nation and inspired Colin to take a knee during the National Anthem at a 49ers Pre-Season game against the Green Bay Packers.

“I’ll continue to sit! I’ll continue to stand with the people that are being oppressed.” Stated Colin Kaepernick when asked about his reasoning for sitting during the National Anthem.

“To me, this is something that has to change and when there is significant change… and I feel like that flag represents what it’s supposed to represent, and this country is representing people the way it’s supposed to; I’ll Stand.”

Kaepernick continued on to say, “This Stand wasn’t for me!

This stand wasn’t because I feel like I’m being put down in any kind of way. This stand is because I’m seeing things

happen to people who don’t have a voice. People who don’t have a platform to talk and have their voices heard… and affect change. I’m in a position where I can do that and I’m going to do that for people that can’t.”

To his credit, Colin Kaepernick has certainly increased the conversations on race relations in this country. So much so, the President of the United States felt the need to comment on Kaepernick, and those who supported him. The President’s disparaging remarks only added fuel to fire and this confluence of circumstances further exposed the racial divided this country. Unfortunately for Kaepernick, his personal protest has apparently caused him an opportunity to line up at quarterback in the NFL again.

Not only has the NFL received some bad publicity due to this so-called controversy. Teams have been hiding behind the fading stats of Kaepernick rather than that of the fading team, and the 49ers organization he left, as a reason not to sign him as their quarterback, or even back up quarterback. Kaepernick’s joint lawsuit with former teammate Eric Reed added to the reasons for owners not to sign him.

In a shocking turn of events, and surprising to most, Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid agreed to a settlement with the NFL in regards to their “Collusion Grievance.”

The NFL sent out this following Joint Public Statement on Friday, February 15; “’For the past several months, counsel for Mr. Kaepernick and Mr. Reid have engaged in an ongoing dialogue with representatives of the NFL. As a result of those discussions, the parties have decided to resolve the pending grievances. The resolution of this matter is subject to a confidentiality agreement so there will be no further comment by any party.’”

It is not often the NFL, with their deep pockets and knowledgeable lawyers, settle out of court. Though the settlement isn’t an admission of guilt, it does speak

the length the NFL would go pay to keep their internal operations private. The NFL Owners apparently didn’t want the investigation into their internal communications and chose to offer a settlement. This settlement is rumored to be in excess of $70 million dollars.

I truly understand and support the cause Colin Kaepernick chose to protest for. I commend him for his efforts and admire his courage to use his platform to bring attention to this cause. However, this settlement makes me question some things about his position? What was more important to him… this case with the NFL or the cause he wanted to bring attention to? Without knowing the specific details in the agreement, it could be said that Reid and Kaepernick were paid for their silence.

One could say, that if the case was most important to Kaepernick and Reid came out as winners. As a payout of upwards of $60-80 million dollars, is a handsome settlement, if that is, in fact, the number. But is that what this case was all about? With the owners willing to make this settlement, would they have been willing to pay out more? Could they have negotiated funding for annual educational projects, summits, and seminars, within the multitude of inner cities across America? Could they have funded partnerships between the Police, communities and NFL Fans that would ultimately work to unite each other? I’d also be interested in hearing from Kaepernick on his thoughts on this settlement and if he can answer the previous questions. Or did they just accept a salary reimbursement from the time they missed?

It’s hard for me to imagine to the NFL wouldn’t have been opened to using this settlement money to support various community building projects in the various cities they play in, once approached. I would suspect that the NFL has allocated funding for such community improvements initiatives, therefore a pre-planned collaboration could’ve

Colin Kaepernick and Eric Reid kneel in protest during the national anthem on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California.Photo: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

been a good look for both parties. In the eyes of the NFL this small settlement is apparently well worth the silence of Kaepernick and Reid.

Having been celebrated by some as a hero or legend, compared to the likes of Muhammad Ali, for his protest.

Kaepernick certainly raised awareness and on the disparity in race relations in America for those who cared to hear his message. Though any comparisons to Ali or any other Civic leader is preposterous! It is time for Kaepernick to follow up with his supporters, and detractors alike, to share his vision moving forward. I know has been working on his “know your Rights” campaign though I’d be eager to hear his plans moving forward and if plans to utilize his platform to remain a leader for social change? I’d be just as interested in hearing your thoughts on this situation with Colin Kaepernick. Please by sharing your thoughts with us by commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or reaching out to us on twitter @whatsgoodinsports.

SANTA CRUZ VS. RIVERA - PBC Fight Card on FOX- Recap MVP candidates LeBron James (left) and James Harden (right) during the 2019 All-Star game this past weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP News photo)

NBA MVP Leaders

(Photo Credit: Andy Samuelson/Premier Boxing Champions)

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com Premier Boxing Champions in conjunction with FOX and FOX Deportes had another wonderful fight card this past weekend, as Featherweight World Champion Leo Santa Cruz took on Mexico’s Rafael Rivera at the Microsoft Theater. This past weekend’s fight card is consistent with the fantastic string of Premier Boxing Champions fight cards in recent weeks.

Leading the televised fight card, the past Saturday evening was unbeaten prospect Sabastian Fundora (11-07KO’s) against undefeated Donnie Marshall (10-6- 6KO’s).

Fundora surprisingly did not use his length advantage against Marshall, instead, he overpowered Marshall with his surprising power and tenacity. Fundora finished off Marshall with a 3rd round knockout.

In the Post Interviews Fortuna mentioned, “I expected Marshall to go inside and attack the body, but he was trying to box. Once I figured out that he didn’t want to bring the fight, we brought it to him and it went our way.” Sabastian continued on to say, “I want to move up the rankings and get to the top five by the end of the year. Anything is possible though and maybe we’ll be fighting for a title. This division has a lot of excellent fighters. I’m going to be ready when the time is right.”

“He was stronger than I thought he was. He’s a good boxer. I thought when I let my hands go I was doing pretty good. But he caught me with a couple good shots.” Donnie said reflecting on the fight. “His height wasn’t a problem because I was able to get inside and land. But he was able to land more than me.”

In the second of the televised fight of the evening, Omar Figueroa Jr. (27-0-1 19KO’s) took of John Molina Jr. (30-7- 24KOs). Interestingly enough, each of these fighters vowed that this fight wouldn’t go the distance, yet low and behold this fight went the distance. These guys exchanged heavy punches for several consistent rounds not wanting to give the other guy the upper hand. Figueroa Jr. and Molina Jr. should both be commended for the guts and determination they displayed in their fight. I could see a rematch of this fight.

After their fight, Omar had this to say, “I thought it was a good fight. We came out and did what we wanted to do. Unfortunately, I hurt my hand, so I started to slow down a little bit after the third round. I know I could have hurt him if I really pressed the action, but I didn’t want to make the hand any worse.” Figueroa continued on to say, “I thought I won comfortably and aside from some middle rounds I felt like I was in control. He caught me with a wake-up punch in the third round. I wanted to test his power because I had heard so much about it. He’s definitely

strong and durable and when I hit him with hard shots, he withstood them.”

Molina Jr has this to say after their fight, “I know what it takes to be able to fight in a weight-based sport and work toward a certain goal. I don’t want to say that weight change is an excuse, but I didn’t even have 24 hours to adjust. I take my hat off to him. He is a former world champion. I have been in there with a bunch of guys and he has a decent punch.”

In the main event of the evening, Leo Santa Cruz (35-1-1- 19KOs) took on replacement fighter Rafael Rivera (26-2-2- 17KOs). This fight was a tactical fight throughout the bout. Rivera was not willing to relinquish any ground though Santa Cruz forged through each round with persistent dominance in this fight. Sant Cruz ended up winning a unanimous decision in the hard-contested fight against Rivera.

Santa Cruz shared these words post fight with us, “I want to thank all the fans that came out tonight to support me. I tried to do my best and do what I could to give them a great fight. I would have loved to have been even better, but he’s really tough and solid opponent. I hit him hard to the body and head very well, but he didn’t go down.”

He continued to say, “My father means the world to me. When I step in the ring, I say that I don’t want to let my dad down. I want to keep him happy so he can keep fighting his cancer. I want to fight the best. I want to fight any of the champions at featherweight or a third fight with Carl Frampton. I want to be back this summer and fight three times this year against the best in the division.”

In his post-fight interview, Rafael Rivera had this to say, “I’m very happy with my performance and I thought I gave everyone a great fight. I was in there with one of the best fighters in the world and throwing punches and exchanging with him. More than anything, I’m very proud to have fought 12 rounds with a great world champion like Leo Santa Cruz. People will know me better now and it was a great experience. I want to continue to push towards another world title opportunity. I want to be a world champion, but it didn’t happen tonight. I will continue to fight and show everyone what I can do.”

Santa Cruz mentioned he would be interested in fighting Gary Russell or even Gervonta Davis. Which was a little surprising to me? Santa Cruz is a solid technical boxer, I am not sure he is ready for “Tank” Davis. Let me know what you think in Santa Cruz is ready for Gervonta “Tank” Davis? Please let me know if you think this would be a quality fight by commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or reaching out to us on twitter @whatsgoodinsports.

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com As the NBA comes to their mid-season break, we now have a large sample size of the performances of the leading players and teams around the league. It is widely recognized that the players in the National Basketball Association are among the best athletes in the world and have the most impact on any singular team than players in other sports.

The purpose of this article is to identify for you our Top 5 Most Valuable Players of this season in the NBA. Multiple factors are considered while rating the Most Valuable Players in the NBA. The players must obviously be able to dominate any given game as well as being a good team player and leader. If they are not great in one skill, they must be very skilled in multiple facets of the game. In reverse order, I have listed my Top 5 MVP Candidates as the NBA heads into the second half of their season; LeBron JamesPrior to suffering the Groin injury, he did on Christmas day that held him out for over multiple weeks, James had the Lakers as high as 4th place in the Western Conference.

They are currently in 10th in the Western Conference, LeBron can possibly vault higher on this list if he is able to lead this splintered Lakers team to a playoff berth form where they are currently.

Stephen CurryAs the Golden State Warriors are on their quest to win their third consecutive Championship. The only team that can seemingly beat this team is themselves and it is Curry that is the engine and leader of this team. When the Warriors endured an internal crisis earlier this season, while Curry was out with an injury, the team called upon Curry to travel with the team to minimize the internal strife and turmoil that was infesting the team without him. His sharp shooting, ball handling, and leadership will be the reason this team wins their 3rd consecutive NBA Championship.

Giannis AntetokounmpoThey call him the Greek Freak… and he is just that! This freakish athlete is strong, nimble and lengthy

Antetokounmpo has a work ethic coupled with a desire to be the best player in the NBA, that is matched by no other.

In a few short seasons, Giannis has led his Milwaukee Bucks back into prominence, and they are currently enjoying the best record in the NBA solely because of his outstanding play!

Paul George George has apparently found comfort in playing next to a former league MVP. This season Paul George has elevated his game this season to a level that has impressed many NBA fans around the league. In his career as the #1 guy on his team, Paul George has scored 40 points 8 times, he’s done this 6-times this season alone. His ability to lock down most opponent coupled with his all around offensive game Paul George has helped to elevated the Thunder to the 3rd seed in the tough Western Conference.

James HardenLast’s season MVP has yet to cool off! Though the Rockets have loss some pieces and added others this season, their floor leader James Harden continues to lead his team.

Averaging over 36 points per game, he is currently on a streak that’s seen him score over 30 points in an awesome 31 straight games. As the Rockets has suffered multiple injuries this offseason, this is a much-needed MVP run that James is on. One that the Rockets hope to keep them in the playoff hunt.

NBA basketball is always fantastic, and their playoffs are even better! With two and a half months left in the season these guys have an opportunity to further separate themselves from the pack and position their teams for a successful playoff run. Let me know your thoughts on my MVP list by sharing your thoughts with us by commenting in the comment section of this article on www. whatsgoodinsports.com or reaching out to us on twitter @ whatsgoodinsports. Your feedback is always welcomed and appreciated

A Dodger No-Show

Andrew Toles

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andrew Toles did not report to spring training

camp on Monday's voluntary full squad reporting day because of an unspecified personal matter.

Manager Dave Roberts said there is no timeline for Toles' arrival. The mandatory reporting date is Saturday.

“We'll get Andrew here when things work out; he works through some personal things,'' Roberts said Monday. “He has our full support, certainly.''

Given the contact he and his staff keep with their players in the off-season, Robert said Toles' absence was surprising.

“Obviously, things are sometimes unpredictable and family, personal issues obviously have to come before baseball and you got to take care of that,'' Roberts said.

“So, yeah, it was a surprise. And I think that is kind of the unpredictability of life. So, we've got to adjust, but like I said, he has our full support and we will go from there.''

Toles has a challenge to make the major league roster, even after outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp were traded to Cincinnati.

The left-handed hitting Toles spent most of last year at Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .306 with seven home runs and 39 RBIs in 71 games. He was the Dodgers' starting left fielder in the second half of 2016 and until May 9 the following year, when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee.

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LOS ANGELES NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Local New Executive Takes Top Post as State Newspapers Tackle Minority Concerns

CNPA President Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, Publisher of Black Voice News (CBM photo)

By Tanu Henry California Black Media Riverside-based publisher of the Black Voice News, Dr. Paulette Brown-Hinds, was recently sworn in as the first African-American president of the California News Publishers Association (CNPA). The 131-year-old organization, headquartered in Sacramento, represents more than 400 newspapers across the state.

The CNPA installed Brown-Hinds at its annual conference on February 6, 2019. Over a hundred California media professionals – from major big city dailies and small campus weeklies to historical Black, Latino and Asian outlets - attended the gathering. This year’s discussions touched on issues facing minorities in the upcoming 2020 Census. It also tackled sticky, longstanding media industry problems and pulled apart laws that could impact news operations across the state in the future.

“We have always valued the work CNPA has done on behalf of the industry,” Brown-Hinds told her colleagues in her inaugural speech as President. “The work that the Black Voice News has done over the years is impactful work in the community that changed lives, policy. I knew it was important for me to do this as well.”

Taking the helm of the CNPA is history-making not only because Brown-Hinds is the first African American and ethnic minority to lead the influential statewide organization. Her personal and family history of advocacy and community service brings a certain grassroots heft that has the potential to benefit the organization as it takes on major legislative issues facing the media across the state in 2019. She is also a professor at the University of California Riverside, and board member of the James Irvine Foundation. “[Paulette] is a fearless leader. She’s not afraid to confront complex issues. She never stops working and is a shining example of diplomacy,” said Ron Hasse, immediate predecessor.

“Part of our mission,” she said. “is giving voice to the voiceless. That is why I appreciate the press, in particular the Black press, because it is rooted in advocacy.”

As Brown-Hinds takes the helm of the CNPA, she faces a number of important policy issues that California newspapers have the responsibility to unpack for their

Ethnic media representatives from around the state at the State Capitol for CNPA annual conference. (CBM photo)

audiences across the state. One of them is the upcoming 2020 Census.

This years CNPA conference dedicated a panel discussion to exploring the details of the decennial census. The Trump administration’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 national population count was a hot topic. Panelists explored how that decision may or may not impact the participation of minorities, immigrants and undocumented people in California.

The panelists also talked about how Census enumerators in the past have undercounted ethnic minorities and other “hard-to-count” populations in California and other states by millions of people. Those inaccuracies could result in the loss of billions of dollars in federal funding and even cost California a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. During the,2010 Census, about 200,000 minority children in California alone were undercounted.

“Power comes from numbers. Power comes from

data. If your numbers are wrong and your data is wrong, it undermines your power,” said Arturo Vargas, the Chief Executive Officer of NALEO Educational Fund. His organization is a national non-profit that promotes the participation of Latinos in civic life.

The way the Census Bureau will categorize and subcategorize people by race on next year’s questionnaires may also pose problems for some Asians, Blacks, Latinos and other minority groups. For example, People of Arab descent from places in North Africa and the Middle East like Egypt, Syria and Morocco will be counted as White.

Afro-Latinos from places like the Dominican Republic will only also be able to only identify as Latino – with no option to choose Black.

The NAACP has filed a lawsuit in Maryland arguing that the 2020 Census is designed purposefully to undercount Blacks, Vargas told the media professionals in the room.

Ditas Katague, the Director of the California Complete Count Office, was a panelist as well. She has also served on the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee on Race, Ethnicities and Other Populations Having worked on three censuses in the past, Katague sees the problems looming with next year’s count in California. She approaches them, though, with a surprising sense of confidence. She is familiar with the process and has decades of experience working with minorities and the media across the state to successfully increase participation.

After the 2020 census, she told the journalists in the room, “What I want to see is that California achieves a complete and accurate count and we outpace the entire country.”

In an effort to reach that goal, Katague’s organization plans to spend tens of millions of dollars partnering with California media, including ethnic media who she says “hard-to-count” minority populations trust.

“Locally created messages resonate. Understand your audience. Educate your audience,” she told them.

ALL TOGETHER NOW, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Conserve natural gas during a Dial It Down Alert As the winter weather gets cooler, the demand for natural gas tends to be higher.

SoCalGas® may issue a Dial It Down Alert on certain days so that we can all work together to conserve natural gas.

If a Dial It Down Alert is issued:

Lower your thermostat to 68 degrees

Wash your clothes in cold water

Visit SoCalGas.com/DialitDown to learn about more ways to conserve. © 2019 Southern California Gas Company. Trademarks are property of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

Take shorter showers to use less hot water