Los Angeles News Observer 6.20.24

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Juneteenth 2024 Across California, Celebrations

Highlight Black Excellence, Culture

By McKenzie Jackson California Black Media

When South Central Los Angeles native Nedric Miller was in the third grade he wanted to be gang member. He dropped out of high school when he was 16.

Two years later, Miller was in prison.

“Education wasn’t valuable to me,” he said. “Everyone around me was shooting up, doing drugs -- doing this, that, and the third. No one was talking about education. People were trying to survive.”

When was Miller released from prison, he moved to Sacramento with a family friend and enrolled in Woodland Community College as a way to get off parole. He took science classes and discovered he enjoyed learning. Miller eventually received his associate degree and enrolled in Sacramento State. He graduated from the university this year.

“A lot of people lent a hand to me,” Miller said. “Kept me positive. Kept me motivated. Thank you for allowing me to graduate because I really didn’t believe I could.”\

Miller’s remarks detailing his journey from the streets to walking across the stage to receive his degree in kinesiology, clinical rehabilitation, and exercise science came during the final day of Sacramento State’s Juneteenth Symposium.

Dr. Nadine A. Kelley, Sacramento State’s senior director of University Housing Services, said it was important for symposium attendees to hear Miller’s college journey.

“We save lives on college campuses,” she said. “You don’t have to be at a hospital to save a person’s life.” \

The June 13-14 symposium was held to celebrate and recognize African American history and achievement, while also highlighting the anti-racism work being done at Sacramento State, which has a student body that is 10% Black, and the California State University system’s other 22 campuses.

The event was one of many celebrations scheduled across the Golden State in celebration of Juneteenth on Wednesday. The national holiday commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.

On June 19, 1865, Black people enslaved in Galveston, Texas, learned of their freedom from Union soldiers. This happened two months after the Confederacy had surrendered in the Civil War and more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

On June 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a Juneteenth proclamation.

“California is proud to recognize Juneteenth as an official state holiday, honoring the centuries of struggles and triumphs that have brought us to this moment,” the Governor’s statement read. “Amid misguided efforts to rewrite our nation’s history, California is committed to confronting the dark chapters of our past to continue moving forward in pursuit of a more perfect union.”

“This Juneteenth, I urge all Californians to reflect on the ongoing cause of freedom for Black Americans – remembering that, though General Granger’s announcement in 1865 called for “absolute equality,” that vision was, and remains, far from complete. Let us celebrate how far we have come and take stock of how far we must go to truly realize our nation’s founding ideals,” the statement continued.

Across the state, several events are scheduled for Wednesday, including Pleasant Hill’s second annual Juneteenth Celebration at the East Bay Area city’s city hall. The celebration will feature numerous activities such as chess tutorials by West Coast Chess Alliance, a reading by author Mackenzie Lee Foster, and African and Caribbean musical and dance performances. Additionally, there will be a reading of the Juneteenth Proclamation and the singing of “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” In an announcement video, the Pleasant Hill Diversity

Commission noted Juneteenth was initially celebrated at family and church center gatherings. There were also annual trips to Galveston Bay by formerly enslaved people and their families.

“Celebrations spread across the South became more popular in the 1920s and 1930s,” said Carson Sprott, the commission’s chair. “In 2020, the country’s important social justice movement renewed national interest in racial equity including the day that many consider our country’s second Independence Day.”

On June 19 in Los Angeles, actress Wendy Raquel Robinson will host Juneteenth at the Wilfandel, the oldest African American women’s club in L.A. This alcohol-free event will feature food, vendors, live entertainment and more.

In Oakland, the Hella Creative, an arts and culture collective is hosting Hella Juneteenth, a cookout featuring live music, Black chefs and Black-owned restaurants from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oakland Museum.

In Pasadena, the local branch of the NAACP hosted the third annual Roller Jam at Pasadena City Hall. The event had arts and crafts, a live DJ, and roller skating.

On June 15, the third annual Juneteenth Festival at Black Miners Bar in the Folsom Lake Recreation Area featured a performance by the Grammy-award winning R&B group Club Nouveau. There was also beer and wine garden featuring Black-owned wineries and distilleries, food vendors, a petting zoo, a kid’s zone, and horseback riding.

Sacramento State’s Juneteenth Symposium featured award presentations, musical performances and panel discussions and speeches by a number of scholars and educational leaders, who discussed topics such as racial injustice and the lived experiences of everyday Black Californians.

Dr. Ibram X. Kendi, the founding director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, discussed anti-racism.

“We have been taught the opposite of racist is not racist,” he said. “The actual opposite of racist is anti-racist. The heartbeat of the being racist has historically been denial, and the sound of that denial has historically been, ‘I’m not racist.’ What we should be striving to be is antiracist.”

California vs. Hate Launches Pride Tour to Support LGBTQ+ Vintage Plane Crashes During Father’s Day Event at SoCal Airfield

By OGNSC Staff

California vs.

with a statewide tour, bolstering support for LGBTQ+ communities in their fight for equality. As part of a statewide outreach campaign, this initiative aims to ensure all Californians are aware of available resources for reporting hate incidents and to take a proactive stand against discrimination. By participating in LGBTQ+ events across various cities, California vs Hate provides essential resources and support.

The effort has received strong backing from key figures like Kevin Kish, Director of the California Civil Rights Department, who emphasizes the state’s commitment to celebrating diversity and combating hate and discrimination. Tony Hoang, Executive Director of Equality California, stresses the critical need for safe reporting avenues for LGBTQ+ individuals, given the rise in reported hate crimes.

Launched a year ago by Governor Newsom, California vs Hate operates as the state’s first multilingual hotline and online platform for reporting hate crimes. According to the California Department of Justice, reported hate crimes targeting people based on their sexual orientation increased by 29% from 2021 to 2022. Prompted by a significant increase in reported hate crimes, particularly those targeting sexual orientation or gender identity, the initiative addresses underreporting by offering a safe, community-centered approach, with a focus on care coordination and access to crucial resources.

CA vs Hate addresses underreporting by offering resources to report incidents without involving law enforcement, providing ongoing support, including legal, financial, mental health, and mediation services. In its first year, CA vs Hate received approximately 1,020 reports, many concerning gender identity and sexual orientation.

The Pride Tour strengthens outreach efforts and

showcases the digital Pride Collection, both aimed at supporting the LGBTQ+ community. Throughout Pride Month, CA vs Hate will offer resources in five cities and unveil a float celebrating equality, unity, and allyship. The initiative encourages community partners and public participation in Pride Month events on the following dates:

June 1: Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade

June 1 & 2: West Hollywood Pride Festival

June 8 & 9: Sacramento Pride March and Festival

June 22: Chico Pride Festival

June 27, 29, & 30: San Francisco Pride Parade and Festival

CA vs Hate provides a safe and confidential reporting platform, available 24/7 online or by phone (MondayFriday, 9 am - 6 pm PT). To report, call toll-free at 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283) or visit CAvsHate.org.

Reports can be made online in over 15 languages and by phone in over 200 languages. For emergencies, please call 911. This resource was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library via California Black Media as part of the Stop the Hate program. The program is supported by partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www. cavshate.org/

(AP)

of restored airplanes, the news group said. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Victim Identified in SoCal Homicide Case, 41 Years Later

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — A victim whose skull was found by children in a Southern California city in 1983 has been identified 41 years after her remains were first discovered, authorities said. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department identified the victim Friday as Maritza Glean Grimmett, a Panamanian native who moved to the U.S. in the late 1970s. Grimmett was 20 years old at the time of her disappearance, authorities said in a news release. The investigation involved a DNA analysis using Grimmett’s remains that helped investigators identify relatives.

After children discovered Grimmett’s skull while playing in an area that is now part of Lake Forest, a city about 43 miles (69 kilometers) southeast of Los Angeles, about 70% of her remains were excavated from the ground. In the decades that followed, authorities were not able to identify the victim.

In 2022, a DNA sample from Grimmett’s remains was sent to Othram Laboratories, a forensics group based in Texas, the sheriff’s department said. A missing persons program within the U.S. Department of Justice funded the DNA extraction and testing. Authorities later discovered “a direct family line” for Grimmett and contacted one of her distant relatives in 2023, they said. The relative recommended the findings of the forensics investigation be posted to a Facebook group focused on women who went missing in the 1970s and 1980s, the sheriff’s department said. A month after the findings were posted, a woman reached out to investigators and said she believed she was the victim’s missing mother.

Relatives later submitted DNA samples to authorities, who identified the victim. The investigation is ongoing. were expected throughout the day, and winds could pick up speed after sundown, warned the National Weather Service office for Los Angeles. About 75 miles (120 kilometers) to the east, the nearly 2-square-mile (5-square-kilometer) Hesperia Fire forced road closures and prompted evacuation warnings after it broke out Saturday near mountain communities in San Bernardino County. The blaze was 19% contained Sunday evening.

Running Out of Water

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — A couple hiking

(Shutterstock Photo)

(Photo credit: Zoe Cranfill AP News/Los Angeles Times)

(Photo Credit: Zoraiz Irshad from Daily Bruin/ dailybruin.com)

From Racist Central Park Encounter with a ‘Karen’ to Emmy-Winning Birdwatcher

It was a sunny day when Cooper, an avid birdwatcher, found himself in the Ramble, a secluded area of Central Park known for its rich bird population. As he enjoyed the tranquility of the natural habitat, he noticed a dog running off-leash, violating park rules designed to protect his beloved birds. Concerned, Cooper approached the dog’s owner, Amy Cooper (no relation), requesting that she leash her dog.

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

Four years after a racist encounter with a so-called “Karen,” Christian Cooper has earned the ultimate payback: a Daytime Emmy Award for his passionate love of birdwatching. The racially charged incident, which took place in 2020, not only spotlighted systemic racial issues but also paved the way for Cooper’s extraordinary success.

It was a sunny day when Cooper, an avid birdwatcher, found himself in the Ramble, a secluded area of Central Park known for its rich bird population. As he enjoyed the tranquility of the natural habitat, he noticed a dog running off-leash, violating park rules designed to protect his beloved birds. Concerned, Cooper approached the dog’s owner, Amy Cooper (no relation), requesting that she leash her dog. What followed was a disturbing display of racial bias. Amy threatened to call the police and make a false claim that “an African American man” was threatening her life.

Christian captured the incident on video, which quickly went viral and brought attention to the racial tensions that ignited during the time of George Floyd’s murder in Minnesota.

“I knew something like this could happen to me, as a

birder who is Black,” stated Christian Cooper, a Harvard alumnus and accomplished writer and editor.

In a twist of fate, the viral incident caught the attention of National Geographic, leading to the creation of his show, “Extraordinary Birder,” which premiered in 2023.

The show has since garnered critical acclaim, culminating in Cooper winning the Daytime Emmy Award this week for Outstanding Daytime Personality.

“No matter what anybody says or does, we are not going back,” Cooper stated during his Emmy Award acceptance speech. “We will only move forward together.”

Cooper’s run-in with Amy, who has since been dubbed “Central Park Karen,” exemplifies the challenges he faced.

The altercation not only led to Amy losing her job but also highlighted the dangerous misuse of racial stereotypes and the potentially life-threatening consequences for Black individuals.

Beyond his television success, Cooper has also made his mark as an author. He penned the memoir “Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World,” which delves into his life experiences and passion for birdwatching. Additionally, he drew inspiration from the Central Park incident for his graphic novel “It’s A Bird,” featured in DC Comics’ digital series “Represent!”

Cooper said he aims to address the structural barriers that prevent Black and brown communities from engaging with nature. “Black and brown people go to the national parks far less than our proportion in the population,” Cooper stated during a 2023 interview.

“I think there’s a lot of structural reasons for that… I think some of them are in terms of legacy problems that affect our communities and built-in barriers. For example, if you are working two or three jobs to keep a roof over your head, you’re not necessarily going to have the money to be able to send your kids to a summer camp where they can develop an appreciation for nature.

“They’re not going to have that connection to nature to want to go out to the great outdoors. So, we’ve got a lot of things to overcome, and that’s one of the things I’m hoping the show will do —get a lot of Black and brown kids thinking, ‘Oh, he’s looking at birds. He’s outdoors. Maybe I can do that.’ Because it’s so much easier to picture yourself doing it if you can see somebody who looks like you already doing it.”

Lawmakers Unite to Combat

Far-Right Project 2025 Initiative

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-California) has announced the formation of the Stop Project 2025 Task Force, a new working group aimed at halting the controversial Project 2025. Described by critics as a farright roadmap designed to grant former President Donald Trump “supreme” powers, Project 2025 would radically undermine reproductive rights, LGBTQ equality, racial justice, free speech, and other democratic institutions and freedoms.

The newly formed task force will serve as a central hub for pro-democracy members of Congress, civil society, and affected communities to coordinate efforts in examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting the initiative.

“Project 2025 is more than an idea; it’s a dystopian plot that’s already in motion to dismantle our democratic institutions, abolish checks and balances, chip away at church-state separation, and impose a far-right agenda that infringes on basic liberties and violates public will,” Huffman said. “We need a coordinated strategy to save America and stop this coup before it’s too late.”

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The Heritage Foundation, a prominent right-wing think tank, is leading Project 2025 with support from over 100 conservative groups and funding from entities like DonorsTrust. This coalition, which includes the Center for Renewing America and the Alliance Defending Freedom, seeks to dismantle democratic institutions and enforce radical policies against the majority’s will. Critics argue that the coalition, composed of election deniers and conspiracy theorists, aims to strip away rights ranging from voting to reproductive freedoms. Further, with Trump falsely claiming that America has become racist toward whites, the convicted felon and former president is primarily responsible for a U.S. Supreme Court that has decimated policies that were put in place to help level the playing field for African Americans.

The Stop Project 2025 Task Force includes a diverse group of Democratic leaders who are at the forefront of many issues currently under attack. Founding members alongside Huffman are Democratic Caucus Vice Chair Ted Lieu of California, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Nanette Barragán of California, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Judy Chu of California, Equality Caucus and Labor Caucus Chair Mark Pocan of Wisconsin, Pro-Choice Caucus Co-Chair Diana DeGette of Colorado, Co-Chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and Ranking Member of Oversight Jamie Raskin of Maryland, and Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal of Washington.

“Project 25 is a radical, extreme, pro-authoritarianism plan pushed by conservatives who are desperate to take our country backwards,” Lieu insisted. “It attacks our nation’s founding principles, such as our system of checks and balances, freedom of speech and of the press, and separation of church and state.”

Project 2025 includes a comprehensive strategy with several components, such as a list of radical policy changes across the federal government, a blueprint for increasing presidential authority to implement right-wing policies, a database of right-wing ideologues ready to enforce these policies, and training programs to prepare staff for enacting the agenda. The initiative would purge civil servants who are not aligned with the agenda, centralize power in the presidency, and enact harsh immigration policies.

“Project 2025 is the product of a coordinated effort by extremists who want to strip away protections for minority communities, including LGBTQI+ people, and undermine the foundations of our democracy,” Rep. Pocan stated. “I look forward to working with members of this task force

to thwart Project 2025’s extreme vision for the country.” Patrick Gaspard, President of the Center for American Progress, called Project 2025 “an authoritarian playbook that threatens the system of checks and balances that has fortified American democracy for nearly 250 years.”

Project 2025 is “Donald Trump’s blueprint for destroying our democracy,” Jayapal declared. “It attacks the very foundations that this country was built on and seeks to limit Americans’ rights to embolden MAGA extremists further. We can and must stand up to ensure that Project 2025 never sees the light of day and instead ensure that our proposition agenda, bold, progressive, and popular policies, are at the forefront.”

MoveOn Political Action Executive Director Rahna Epting added, “Project 2025 is the MAGA authoritarian playbook to take away our rights and fundamental freedoms and destroy our democracy. Donald Trump and his MAGA enablers are planning to use power to monitor pregnancies, further restrict reproductive freedom, unlawfully use local law enforcement to detain migrants, and gut policies designed to fight climate change. We have to get to work right now to stop them in their tracks.”

With Election Day approaching, the task force will emphasize the importance of voter education and engagement to counteract the project’s potential impact.

“Education and awareness are crucial in the battle against Project 2025,” said Abeni Bloodworth, CEO of chromatic black. “It is our duty to inform others about the detrimental effects it could have on our communities and rally for change. On Election Day, we hold the ultimate power to fight back against this tyranny and defend our fragile democracy. Let us honor the legacy of those who fought tirelessly for equality by standing up against Project 2025.”

Oklahoma Supreme Court Dismisses Tulsa Race Massacre Survivors’ Lawsuit

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

The Oklahoma Supreme Court dismissed a case filed by the last two remaining survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre on Wednesday, June 12, casting doubt on racial equality campaigners’ aspirations for justice and reparations for one of the most heinous acts of racial violence in American history.

The nine-member court upheld a previous ruling by a district court judge in Tulsa, stating that the plaintiffs’ grievances, although legitimate, did not fall within the purview of the state’s public nuisance statute. “We further hold that the plaintiff’s allegations do not sufficiently support a claim for unjust enrichment,” the court declared

in its decision. Attempts by the Black Press to contact both parties were unsuccessful.

Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher, two survivors who are both over 100 years old, filed the lawsuit in 2020 to compel the City of Tulsa and other parties to make amends for the destruction a white mob caused to the thriving Black neighborhood known as Greenwood. On May 31 and June 1, 1921, the mob, which included individuals hastily deputized by local authorities, looted and set fire to the district, famously dubbed “Black Wall Street.”

The massacre resulted in the deaths of up to 300 Black Tulsans and forced thousands of survivors into internment

statute.

camps managed by the National Guard. Today, only remnants like burned bricks and part of a church basement remain of the once-thriving 30-block area.

Benningfield Randle and Fletcher, along with the now-deceased Hughes Van Ellis, sued to secure what their attorney termed “justice in their lifetime.” Van Ellis, affectionately known as “Uncle Redd,” was a WWII veteran and a symbol of resilience who died last year at age 102. The lawsuit was grounded in Oklahoma’s public nuisance law, arguing that the massacre’s legacy of racial division and economic disparity persists in Tulsa to this day.

The plaintiffs contended that the city’s history of racial tensions and the economic fallout from the massacre still reverberate, citing the lack of compensation for victims by the city and insurance companies. The lawsuit sought an exhaustive accounting of the property and wealth lost or stolen during the massacre, the construction of a hospital in north Tulsa, and the establishment of a victims’ compensation fund, among other reparations. In reflecting on Van Ellis’s legacy, advocates emphasized his lifelong commitment to seeking justice for massacre survivors. “He bravely served America, even as he spent a lifetime awaiting atonement related to the Tulsa Race Massacre,” Oklahoma Democratic Rep. Regina Goodwin stated after Van Ellis’s death. “Mr. Ellis urged us to keep fighting for justice. In the midst of his death, there remains an undying sense of right and wrong.” Rocky Dawuni, a three-time Grammy-nominated artist, also paid tribute to Van Ellis, remarking on his indomitable and uplifting spirit. “Uncle Redd had a larger-than-life presence. His life and story have become part of our collective struggle as a people,” Dawuni said. “His experiences give us a unique glimpse

The newly formed task force will serve as a central hub for pro-democracy members of Congress, civil society, and affected communities to coordinate efforts in examining, highlighting, preempting, and counteracting the initiative.

Method Man is the Fixer in Bad Shabbos, the 2004 Tribeca Film Festival Audience Winner

By Dwight Brown

Film Critic for DwightBrownInk.com and NNPA News Wire (***)

When the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival ended June 16th, the audience had spoken. It named the zany, dark comedy Bad Shabbos its Audience Award Narrative winner. And this movie can thank a breakout performance by the 53-year-old rapper Method Man (Wu-Tang Clan) for pulling it across the finish line.

Shabbos is the day of rest for Jewish culture. Seventh day of the week, and it falls on Saturday, though traditional Shabbat meals generally happen on a Friday evening. That’s the day of the week this family gathers as it welcomes a non-Jewish person into their Upper West Side apartment. Meg (Meghan Leathers), from Wisconsin, is joining them because her fiancé Dave (Jon Bass) is the eldest son. The meal will also include the introduction of her gentile parents (Catherine Curtin, John Bedford Lloyd) to the new in-laws. She doesn’t know it, but Meg is walking into a hell storm.

Dave’s Dad Richard (David Paymer, Mr. Saturday Night) is a tad flakey. His over-controlling mom Ellen (Kyra Sedgwick) can’t hide her disappointment that her son is marrying outside their culture. Abby (Milana Vayntrub), Dave’s sister, is in attendance with her sadistic, unfaithful boyfriend Benjamin (Ashely Zuckerman), who’s in finance. That bastard loves needling the baby of the family, the teen boy/man Adam (Theo Taplitz), who can’t keep a job to save this life and has mental-emotional problems so vast he masks them with prescription pills. What could go wrong? Everything!

The very clever and sardonic script by writer/director

Daniel Robbins and cowriter Zack Weiner takes viewers inside a Jewish New York City home. The footage starts with what should be a normal occasion, which turns it into a hysterical train wreck of events in about ten minutes. As the members of the clan badger each other, some audience members will relate that dynamic to their own family’s issues. While others will be happy just to smirk, laugh and observe. The introduction of the outsider and her parents is similar to a white women introducing her parents to her Black fiancé’s kinfolk at a meal in their home, on their territory. There’s a natural awkwardness as they iron out details, learn customs, innocently offend, apologize and try to build a new relationship.

That’s about where any normalcy ends, and the crazy stuff begins. There’s an accident and a crime coverup that leads to scheming, planning and unsuccessful maneuvering. All staged by inexperienced oddballs who haven’t a clue how to be cool and get the job done. They’re funny, whiney and neurotic. Denial, blundering and failing to call the authorities compounds any possible consequences. What are they to do?

This is where the filmmakers had a moment of genius. Throw an interloper into the mix. Insert the gatekeeper, the doorman Jordan (Method Man). Or better yet, let him insist on interjecting himself into the mayhem as he vies to be the savior, guardian angel and fixer. It’s a smart move casting a rapper in a pivotal role that some wouldn’t suspect he’d do. Credit the musician for daring to take a cliché role and making it all his own. Jordan is a smart, determined guardian with all the answers: “We’ve crossed the Red Sea. No turning back now.”

The ensemble of Jewish and gentile family members

is universally well-played by the cast. But Method Man rises from the fray and steals the movie. The casting director could have gone in two other directions. Hire an outrageous, eccentric rapper (Lil Wayne, Flava Flav) who would make the role even more nonsensical. Or book a seasoned comedy actor (Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence) who could’ve milked each comic moment to death. Method Man proves to be a nice in-between option.

Robbins has directed several indie films. Notably Citizen Weiner, which is also based in New York. Most of this new movie was shot (cinematographer Matt Clegg) in an apartment on West 81st Street on the 16th floor. But lobby scenes (production designer Lily Guerin) were filmed in a building on Riverside Dr., the same one used for Tom Hanks’ movie You’ve Got Mail. The setup, atmosphere and fated gathering are never in question. Though, Robbins’ sense of timing (editor Kait Plum) seems off at points. Why does it take so long for members of the gathering to notice that someone is missing? They’re in an apartment, not a 12-room haunted mansion! Any extended absence would’ve been noticed immediately.

The film’s style fluctuates between that of a funny indie, boisterous TV sitcom episode and a wordy characterdriven Broadway farce. Which isn’t a compliment, more an observation. Even with that odd mix and some lulls, Robbins hits most of the beats he needs to keep viewers engaged. As a director, he needs more polish. As a writer, his instincts for humor, odd situations, dialogue and characters are sharper. Good enough to enthrall a Netflix audience. Iffy for a theater audience who can easily see the film’s seams.

When the chips are down. When Dave and Meg’s

Zsela is Letting Go and Leaning Into Uncertainty With Her Debut Album ‘Big

By LESLIE AMBRIZ Associated Press

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Zsela leans into the ebb and flow of uncertainty and invites listeners to do the same throughout her debut album “Big For You.” The album, written over four years, follows Zsela’s 2020 EP “Ache of Victory,” which she describes as “an imprint of time.”

“I'm connected to it since it'll always be a part of my story, but I'm excited to tell new ones with this album," said Zsela. “I was working a lot on myself and on this music. It took time. And I feel really fortunate that I got this time to get the songs to where I wanted them to be, and I feel really excited about where they landed,” she said. For Zsela, working on “Big For You” was a test of trusting her instincts and pushing beyond her comfort zone both sonically and vocally.

“I got really into experimenting with my voice in ways that would dictate my writing. I had this character that I sang with that came from a day that I just wasn’t feeling my voice. So, I was like, let me try something different. Like really different,” says Zsela about a character within the album. When asked where the character appears, she simply says, “I think it’s more fun to leave that for the listener to find.” Zsela has a rich, alluring voice. Her warm tone intertwines with upbeat, dreamscape melodies and

instrumentals, especially heard on tracks like “Fire Excape" and “Not Your Angel.”

“I feel like I established a confidence in just the practice itself of experimenting and not being so precious and opening up to people and ideas and really trying to practice listening to myself and where I want to go and outside of, like the noise of the world,” she says.

But while embarking on the metamorphosis, Zsela says she had a strong desire to pursue “lightness, fun and levity” throughout the process.

“I really tried to bring that into the room every time I was with myself and working on, like, figuring out what I wanted to say,” she said. “It’s just about like opening up and letting go and experimenting."

“Big For You" was a chance to see how far she could go, cementing her creative confidence and creating an enchanting and energetic album full of musical tension and release.

“My friend described it as a sweaty album, like, it feels like you’re tense and hot,” she says.

“Big For You” translates to ‘I love you' for Zsela, and the album is about love and all of its complexities.

“The big is the space that we fill up and take inside of love. Like being ‘full for you’ and ‘full of you’ and this complexity in the magnitude of that space we take and we fill up,” said the artist. The Brooklyn-native is taking listeners on an adventure

for You’

beginning with the fantasy-filled “Lily of the Nile” and landing with “Play,” a song that she says “ends with this question of love.”

“It kind of has been this way of leaving it (the album) open-ended and hopefully making you want to start it again to see what the answer is or if there is one.”

She has once again teamed up with longtime Frank Ocean and FKA Twigs-collaborator Daniel Aged to produce, alongside Gabe Wax.

“I’ve kept my world of collaborators pretty intimate. And it’s not to say that I like don’t want to invite more, but I think that intimacy has really like built a lot of trust and that has really been important to creating it and being able to experiment and find your way back home.”

Zsela has played numerous shows with artists like Caroline Polacheck and Arooj Aftab. But this summer she will embark on her first headlining tour and looks forward to meeting listeners who resonate with her artistry.

“I am excited to see who is in those rooms,” she said.

“I’m excited to play these songs live. The whole time in making this album, I’ve just been thinking about playing them live.”

“Big For You” is set for release Friday. Zsela hopes listeners will soak in the melodies, lyrics and arrangements while driving with the top down.

Method Man in Bad Shabbos (Photo courtesy of Tribeca Fim Festival)

The cast of Bad Shabbos (Photo courtesy of Tribeca Film Festival)

Heated Hearing on Reparations: Asians and Latinos Not Responsible for Slavery and Discrimination

By Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

On June 11, a heated debate ensued among lawmakers over reparations for Black Californians during an Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing on Senate Bill (SB) 1331, also known as The Fund for Reparations and Restorative Justice.

Assemblymember Kate Sanchez (R-Rancho Santa Margarita), a member of the Judiciary Committee, voted against SB 1331, commenting that the legislation is “fundamentally unfair” and “the pain of our past should not be paid by people of today.” She stated that California’s Asians and Latinos make up 55% of the state population and are not responsible for slavery, discrimination, or Jim Crow laws.

Senate Judiciary Committee chair Ash Kalra (D-San José) disagreed with Sanchez’s perspective and pushed back with a persuasive counterargument explaining why America owes Black Americans.

The Indian American lawmaker reminded Sanchez and other members of the committee that “the country became a superpower based on free labor” and “Black families over a generation “did not ask if it was okay to take their wealth, enslave them, or put their children in poverty,” Kalra said.

“We recognize it,” Kalra said, nearly breaking into tears. “I know it’s not going to be easy. It’s not supposed to be easy to actually admit what you’ve caused pain when you try to repair and heal that pain. And yes, we still benefit to this day from what happened to our brothers and sisters in the Black community so many generations ago.”

During a panel discussion held on June 15 in San Diego, organized by the Black Freedom Fund in partnership with the CLBC, Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) criticized some Republican colleagues in the Legislature who uniformly and consistently vote no on reparations-focused legislation.

“Some of our Republican colleagues have taken it upon themselves to make this a very political issue, voting no on all our bills,” said Gipson. Any bills that deal with reparations, they are voting no. “They are also casting lies on how much these bills are going to cost and talking about the immigrant status and how they are not a part of what happened in California. So, it’s our responsibility to educate our colleagues on what’s going on.”

SB 1331 was one of four reparations bills that the Senate and Assembly reviewed in various committees and voted to advance.

Assembly Constitutional Amendment (ACA) 8 made it out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on June 11 with a 4-1 vote. The legislation is on its way to the Committee on Elections and Constitutional Amendments.

Authored by Assemblymember Lori Wilson (D-Suisun City), ACA 8 seeks to abolish the language “involuntary servitude” from the state’s constitution, effectively prohibiting slavery of any form in the prison system.

“We have an opportunity to step in the direction that ends that legacy (of slavery in California),” said Wilson, the chairperson of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC).

“This bill throughout its history has enjoyed no opposition on record or testifying against it,” said Wilson.

“I believe it is really consistent with California’s value and it’s time we showed it in writing and not just within talks.”

The public safety community members who voted in favor of ACA 8 were Sens. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley), Scott Weiner (D-San Francisco), Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward), and CLBC member Steven Bradford (D-Inglewood). Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) voted no. If the bill passes out of the Senate, it will be sent to Gov. Newsom for his signature and placed on the general election ballot in November.

Wilson’s legislation is one of 14 reparations bills introduced by the CLBC earlier this year. The package addresses the recommendations the California Reparations Task Force made last year in its 1,100-page final report.\

ACA 8 is the legislative successor of ACA 3 – the California Abolition Act – aimed at removing slavery from California law.

It was first authored by then-Sen. Sydney KamlagerDove (D-Los Angeles) but the bill failed in 21-6 vote on the Senate floor in June 2023.

Kamlager-Dove was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after Karen Bass vacated the seat to run for mayor of Los Angeles. She still monitors the bill that Wilson picked up when she left the State Senate.

Kamlager-Dove is currently working to remove similar language regarding voluntary servitude from the U.S. Constitution.

“The exceptions for slavery and involuntary servitude in both the California Constitution and the 13th Amendment are moral disgraces that need to be addressed at both federal and state levels,” Kamlager-Dove said in a

written statement to California Black Media. “In Congress, I proudly reintroduced the Abolition Amendment to amend the U.S. Constitution and abolish slavery once and for all. We must sustain this momentum at the state level. I urge swift passage of ACA 8 to end prison labor in California.”

In addition to Wilson’s ACA 8 bill, a number of reparations bills authored by members of the CLBC are advancing in the Legislature.

In addition to SB 1331, the Assembly Judiciary Committee voted to pass three of Bradford’s reparations bills, as of June 12.  The bills are Senate Bill (SB) 1403, that would establish the California American Freedmen Affairs Agency (CAFAA) and SB 1050, CAFAA’s required action to compensate families that lost property to eminent domain. SB 1403 and SB 1331 are not part of the CLBC reparations package.

Assemblymember Joe Patterson (R-Rocklin) voted no on SB 1403 and SB 1331, but voted yes gave SB 1050 his full based on his knowledge of property rights and the historical unfair use of eminent domain.

“I think eminent domain should be extremely limited,” said Patterson, the vice chair of the Assembly Housing Committee. “I am 100% for something where you say you have to be compensated for fair-market value if the government is going to take your property. Because of that, I am going to support this measure.”

California-Hawaii NAACP Inducts Danny Glover, Rev. Amos Brown Into Hall of Fame

The NAACP California Hawaii State Conference (CalHi NAACP) honored actor and political activist Danny Glover and social justice leader Rev. Amos C. Brown at its 12th annual Legacy Hall of Fame Ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Sacramento on June 10. With that honor, Glover and Brown join a long list of activists, leaders and changemakers who have fought tirelessly for equal rights for African Americans, changes in law, and to advance the civil rights movement.

“These are nationally, known heavyweights,” said Cal- Hi NAACP President Rick Callender.

“They are both humble and national leaders. (The Hall of Fame) shows that they are here in attendance, reaching back into the community, and letting Mr. Glover and Rev. Brown know that they deserve this prestigious honor,” Callender continued. The ceremony brought together a diverse group of guests, including NAACP members from across the state, corporate partners, supporters, and future leaders and delegates of the Youth and College Division. State lawmakers in attendance were Sen. Angelique Ashby (D-Sacramento) and Sen. Susan Rubio (D-West Covina).

Rubio presented Glover and Brown with Senate

resolutions outlining their civil rights accomplishments.

Secretary of State Shirley Weber gave remarks focused on the character and achievements of the honorees. When she was the president of the National Council for Black Studies, Weber remembers Glover advocated for the academic discipline at San Francisco State University before he rose to fame in the film industry.

Weber also thanked Brown for his leadership as a member of the California Reparations Task Force, a nineperson panel created based on Assembly Bill (AB) 1321, legislation she authored when she served in the Assembly representing the 79th District in San Diego. After a twoyear investigation and study, the task force delivered a 1,100-page report with 115 reparations recommendations to the Governor and Legislature.

“Despite all the things they have done they’ve never forgotten where they once came from,” Weber said of the Hall of Fame inductees. “They continue to hold up the banner for us and to fight for us every day. Their task now is to make sure that you pick up the banner and move forward.”

Glover was born July 22, 1947, in San Francisco. His parents, Carrie and James Glover were both United States postal workers and active members of the NAACP. While at San Francisco State College, the young Glover led a student strike. The demonstration led to the first ethnic

studies department in the country.

Glover studied the art of acting at San Francisco State College and trained at the Black Actors Workshop of the American Conservatory Theater.  Glover has and continues to nurture a long career in stage plays, television, and films.  Glover has produced social justice documentaries that align with his advocacy work. He has received numerous awards for his humanitarian efforts and once served as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

“I certainly have so much respect for this particular moment,” Glover said of receiving NAACP honors. “But just to be around men and women of all ages, all ethnicities who work for a better community. That’s what it is all about -- what it means to be a human being working on the half of humanity. Thank you for this honor.”

Rev. Amos Cleophus Brown was born Feb 20, 1941, in Jackson, Mississippi. He is one of only eight students who had the pleasure to take a college class taught by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while he was a student at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

“I want you to know that I am 83 going on 84 but I am going to stay in the struggle (for equality),” Brown said. “I am going to stay in the struggle because God has given me strength and God has been my light. I am going to stay in the fight until Black folks receive equality and opportunities in the United States of America.”\ Every year, the NAACP CA/HI State Conference inducts individuals into the Hall of Fame who exemplify the commitment and courage to advocate for the betterment of Black people in California. The event also creates funding for youth leadership programs and initiatives.

“The one thing that I really like about this event is that we really are honoring folks that have been doing the business of civil rights for their entire life,” Callender said. “We’re just saying, ‘We’ve seen what you’ve been doing, we’re watching you, and yes, you deserve to be in our Hall of Fame.’”

In 1961, Brown and King were arrested at a civil rights lunch counter sit-in. As a youth, Brown’s mentor was Mississippi NAACP Field Secretary Medgar Evers.   Brown has been the pastor of San Francisco’s Third Baptist Church in the Fillmore District since 1976. He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 1996 to 2000. Brown was first appointed to the position by former San Francisco Mayor and California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown before being elected to a two-year term.  Brown has served as national chairman for the NAACP Youth and College Division and the National Baptist Commission on Civil Rights. He is currently the president of the San Francisco branch of the NAACP.

Asm. Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City), the chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, makes the case for ACA 8 in front of the Senate Public Safety Committee on June 11. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

ACA 8 advocate Chris Lodgson, center, waits for the Senate Public Safety Committee to vote on the bill. It passed with a 4-1 vote on June 11. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

Actor and civil rights activist Danny Glover, left, social justice advocate the Rev. Amos C. Brown, center, and NAACP Cal-Hi State Conference President Rick Callender, right, at the 12th Annual Legacy Hall of Fame ceremony in Sacramento, Calif., on June 10. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

California Secretary of State Shirley Weber spoke at the NAACP Cal-Hi Conference’s 12th Annual Legacy Hall of Fame ceremony in Sacramento, Califonia June 10. (CBM photo by Antonio Ray Harvey)

Antonio Ray Harvey California Black Media

California Capitol News You Might Have Missed  Political Playback:

Bo Tefu, Joe W. Bowers Jr., and Lila Brown California Black Media

Black Freedom Fund Is Hosting State of Black California Tour Focused on State’s Reparations Effort

The California Legislative Black Caucus CLBC) has partnered with the California Black Freedom Fund (CBFF) for a tour that raises awareness about the fight for reparations in California.

The CBFF is a community-based organization and non-profit leading a five-year initiative that aims to invest $100 million towards Black power-building and movement-based organizations statewide.

The organization announced the “State of Black California Tour,” a series of six community events that bring together lawmakers, local leaders, and community members.

During the events, attendees raise questions and concerns that address historical, current and emerging challenges in various Black communities across California. Those discussions will focus on educating and motivating the public about the work the California Reparations task force has completed and why it is critical to compensate Black Californians for historical wrongs they have endured.

The first event in the series was held in San Diego on June 15.

Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) was the host of the San Diego event and moderated the discussion, “on the state of the Black community and how we work to secure the future all Black Californians deserve,” the organization stated.

“I am deeply honored to stand before you as we gather to discuss a matter of profound importance: The State of Black California,” said Weber, Secretary of the CLBC. She was speaking on June 15, making the opening statement during the San Diego stop of the tour.

“Today, we come together not only to acknowledge these injustices but to reaffirm the California Legislative Black Caucus’ commitment to rectifying many of the harms outlined in the California Reparations Task Force report.”

Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber also spoke at the San Diego event.

The elder Weber said when she was a lawmaker many of her colleagues in the Legislature were reluctant to support AB 3121, the reparations bill she introduced that garnered bi-partisan support and made the task force possible. They were hesitant because they thought a bill that provided monetary compensation to Black Californians “would divide California.”

“We used the United Nations model in terms of what you’re supposed to do for reparations across the world. So, we had the backing of the international community,” said Weber. This is the standard across the world: to do reparations.”

“The fact that we have not given African Americans reparations is a blemish on this country,” said Weber. “The nation and the world have standards of justice, and this nation has never met those standards. Reparations is one of those standards that needs to be met for African Americans for the 400 years of injustices we have suffered.” Leaders of local organizations, grassroots advocates, and community members are encouraged to attend an event in their respective communities.

The tour will continue to various cities across the state, including Santa Barbara, Fresno, Sacramento, Oakland, and Moreno Valley. The events will be held once a month starting in June up until October 2024.

Californians interested in attending an event in their area can find additional information on State of Black California website. Details for events held in each city are available online including registration, speakers, and necessary updates.

California Legislature Honors First Black Radio Personality to Serve as SF Giants Announcer

Last week, lawmakers in both houses of the legislature honored San Francisco Giants public address announcer Renel Brooks-Moon for her trailblazing media career and advocacy work statewide.

By all accounts a Bay Area legend, the multi-awardwinning radio personality served as the Giants public address announcer for 24 seasons. The Baseball Hall of Fame acknowledged Brooks-Moon as the first woman to serve as a Public Address Announcer for a world championship game in any professional sport.

On June 11, Oakland-born Brooks-Moon was recognized on the California Assembly Floor as “Woman of the Year” by State Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco).

The same day, Brooks-Moon was also presented with a resolution on the Senate Floor by Senate President proTempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast), Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), and other Bay Area lawmakers.

“On the Assembly Floor, we honored Renel BrooksMoon. Her career started in radio, but she is best known for her role as San Francisco Giants announcer,” Assemblymember Akilah Weber (D-San Diego) wrote on Facebook. “She is the first Black Californian to have that position and she did it with gusto!” Brooks-Moon dedicated her awards to her late parents, whom she acknowledged as her role models and inspiration.

“I am profoundly honored and humbled to receive this recognition,” she said. “My heart is filled with gratitude and appreciation.”

McGuire said Brooks-Moon had been a fixture at Oracle Park and announced over 2,000 games including three World Series Championships.

“She brought incredible excitement and emotion to the game of baseball,” McGuire stated. “For those of us listening, she brought the game to life. But her storied career and community impact extend beyond the ballpark.” Brooks-Moon spent 34 years as a radio and television broadcaster, including lead roles at 106 KMEL, 98.1 KISSFM and CBS-5. On air, Brooks-Moon led a number of efforts that empowered and uplifted the community. During that time, she received various awards for her advocacy and media work, including honors from the Bay Area Black

Journalists Association, American Women in Radio and Television,

Girl Scouts of NorCal, and Girls, Inc.

High Turnout Expected in California’s General Election Amid Racial and Age Gaps

A recent survey by the Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS), commissioned by the Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, indicates that over threequarters (78%) of California’s registered voters are highly likely to participate in the upcoming general election on November 5. However, the survey of 5,095 voters highlights significant disparities among different voter demographics.

White voters show the highest likelihood of voting at 89%, compared to 66% for Black voters, 70% for Latino voters, and 62% for Asian American voters. Age differences are also notable, with 89% of voters aged 65 or older likely to vote, compared to just 60% of those aged 18-29.

The primary motivation for voters is the Presidential election, with 70% citing it as their reason for voting. Other significant factors include supporting specific issues (66%), fulfilling civic duty (63%), and protecting democracy (60%).

For those less likely to vote, dissatisfaction with Presidential candidates is a major deterrent, cited by 40%. Additionally, 36% are discouraged by the influence of special interests and big money.

John Kim, President and CEO of Catalyst California, emphasizes the importance of understanding voter motivations to address these disparities. “Knowing what is motivating California voters to participate in elections, and to what degree, is key to understanding our democratic systems,” he said. “This state has made strides in recent years to make voting more accessible. Yet the racial disparities that persist are a call to action for advocates and state officials to work together to address continuing structural impediments.”

Christian Arana of the Latino Community Foundation points out that investments in voter education are essential for a well-informed electorate capable of influencing state policies.

Eric Schickler, IGS co-director, notes that while overall engagement is high, the significant gaps in voter interest across different demographics highlight the need for continued efforts to mobilize underrepresented groups. “The big gaps across racial and ethnic subgroups and age cohorts underscore that interest in this election is far from universal, and that dissatisfaction with the two major party candidates may be a substantial obstacle in mobilizing turnout to the level seen in 2020.”

For Juneteenth, Amazon will Livestream Sold-Out Kendrick Lamar Concert in L.A.

Celebrating Juneteenth, multi-Grammy award winning musician and Compton native Kendrick Lamar will perform at a sold-out concert from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles on June 19.

Tickets sold out almost instantly when news of the performance by the rapper the California State Senate recognized as a Generational Icon in 2015 was announced.

Fans flocked to snag tickets, some reporting they were in line behind tens of thousands of others. Demand for tickets was so high that resale prices skyrocketed, climbing up to $1,500.

Those who can’t attend in person won’t have to miss out as the concert will be livestreamed on Amazon Music.

Titled “The Pop Out - Ken & Friends,” presented by pgLang and Free Lunch, the livestream will start at 4 p.m.

PT and air on the Amazon Music channel on Twitch and Prime Video.

The livestream coincides with “Forever the Influence,” Amazon Music’s way of honoring the contributions of Black artists, producers, and songwriters who have defined culture during Black Music Month. Amazon Music will announce additional Amazon Music Originals and video content from the most influential Black artists for “Forever the Influence” in the coming weeks.

The concert’s title is a reference to Lamar’s wildly popular Drake diss track, “Not Like Us,” which hip-hop fans have declared cemented his place as “winner” with the song becoming a huge radio success as a result from the feud. Since Lamar dropped his verse on Metro Boomin and Future’s track “Like That” back in March, the beef between him and Drake has finally come to an end.

pgLang, is a multidisciplinary creative communications company that specializes in music and visual media production. The company was founded in 2020 by rapper Kendrick Lamar and music executive Dave Free and is headquartered in Los Angeles. The name is an acronym for “program language”, which Free says is synonymous with text-based formal languages and aligns with Lamar’s art.

Last year, Amazon Music sponsored the Juneteenth celebration at Leimert Park but had to cancel several performances when a stampede broke out causing an abrupt ending. Those interested in tuning in can learn more at www. amazonmusic.com.

Despite 11th Hour Push from Gov. Newsom, Prop 47 Proposition Makes It to Ballot

California voters will decide the outcome of a measure that aims to amend Proposition 47, a law that made drug possession and theft for property less than $950 a misdemeanor instead of a felony. Last week, a reform measure that imposes harsher criminal penalties for drug possession and theft qualified for the

the reform measure they say would reduce crime rates statewide. Republican Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said

that Democrats are too prideful to admit that Prop 47 was a mistake and continue to deny the need to reform the law.

“To combat the California crime wave, we need to strengthen our laws, both in the Legislature and at the ballot box,” Jones said in a statement.

“It’s irresponsible to force voters into a false choice between the two,” he added.

Before the ballot measure qualified last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom attempted to negotiate with legislators to keep the reform measure off the November ballot. Democratic leaders made efforts to prevent Republican plans to have parts of Prop 47 repealed.

Democrats accused Republicans of political posturing and intentionally misrepresenting Prop 47, pointing out that most retail theft and other crimes most frequently committed exceed the $950 misdemeanor threshold that has become a point of contention for opponents.

“If a ballot measure purporting to address retail theft and fentanyl issues is approved by voters this fall, aspects of these laws simply won’t be applicable and there will be conflicts,” Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas said.

“We should solve our crime problem with carefully considered legislation that addresses the problem, because that’s how to solve this — not through blunt force, but through informed fixes,” he said.

However, Californians for Safer Communities, a bipartisan group composed of law enforcement officers, community organizers, and business leaders backed the proposed amendment to reform Prop 47. The advocacy group garnered over 900,000 signatures for a petition that qualifies Prop 47 to be included in the November ballot, allowing voters to have a say on the amendment.

Greg Totten, co-chair of Californians for Safer Communities said that State legislators should stop playing politics.

“The Legislature’s plan to include an automatic repeal ... proves they are not serious about addressing the explosion in retail theft and the state’s fentanyl crisis,” said Totten.

Voters approved Prop 47 in 2014 lowering the penalty for crimes including shoplifting, grand theft, and receiving stolen property. But Republican leaders want harsher penalties for offenses such as drug possession and property theft.

Democratic leaders in the legislature proposed a bi-partisan package of 14 bills to help curb retail theft statewide to sway voters from repealing Prop 47. Democratic legislators also promised to add an amendment to a proposed bill on retail crimes that revokes the laws if voters pass the statewide proposition regarding harsher crime laws.

Despite the governor’s repeated attempts to avoid including Prop 47 in the ballot box, voters will make the final decision in November.

“Do I think the legislative path is better than the ballot box? Yes, I do, but I also respect the will of our voters here in California, said Rivas They’re frustrated, and I know that’s why our caucus, why our leaders in the Senate – why we have devoted a year to developing good, strong laws to fix this problem.”

History-Making Move: L.A. County Board of Supervisors Convenes First-Ever LGBTQ+ Commission

Los Angeles County introduced the first-ever Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Commission in a ceremony hosted by Supervisor Hilda Solis.

The commission was created to recommend policies and address current and emerging issues that impact LGBTQ communities. This initiative was proposed and co-authored by Solis and Supervisor Janice Hahn, aiming to be more inclusive of LGBTQ individuals in California’s most populous county.

The commission’s executive director Sunitha Menon will work alongside 15 LGBTQ commission members including community leaders, local government officials, lawyers, and health professionals.

Solis said that the board of supervisors stands in solidarity with the LGBTQ community.

“Today, Los Angeles County is making history –again – and hopefully setting an example for the rest of the nation to follow,” said Solis.

The board of supervisors completed a year-long selection process when it appointed Menon as the commission’s executive director. The board also compiled a resolution to fly the Progress Pride Flag at all County facilities in honor of Pride Month.

Menon said that the commission will remain dedicated to ensuring the safety and survival of LGBTQ individuals in their respective communities.

“I look forward to working alongside the Commissioners to ensure we are uplifting the needs of the over 500,000 members of our community, particularly for our Black and Brown trans community members, and those who live in areas with less access to life-saving resources and support,” said Menon.

Supervisor Hahn said that LA County is on the right side of history by uplifting LGBTQ voices.

“There are too many states and local governments across the country who are moving backwards when it comes to LGBTQ rights,” said Hahn.

California Lawmakers Amend AB 886, Bill Written to Save Journalism

Last week, California lawmakers added new amendments to Assembly Bill (AB) 886, reviving a controversial piece of legislation that would require online platforms to pay a fee for news content distributed alongside digital advertisements.

The bill, supporters say, was written to protect news publications and the public service journalism they produce – one of the pillars that strengthens America’s democracy. AB 866’s author Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) cancelled a hearing on the bill last year after

significant pushback from Google and other major digital tech companies.

Under current law, tech companies pocket all the revenue they generate from digital ads displayed on news articles online.

The “California Journalism Preservation Act” models Canada’s digital news publishing laws that charge online platforms for distributing news content.

The newly amended AB 886 requires tech companies that own online platforms to pay publishers a sizable portion of the ad revenue generated from online news content. The law also obligates publishers to use 70% of the proceeds they would receive from the tech giants to pay journalists who are residents of the state.

Similar to Canada’s law, if AB 886 passes, payment for each news outlet would be based on the number of journalists working in the newsroom as opposed to the rate of engagement and impressions generated by articles. The bill also aims to create a fund that companies can pay into, which would later be distributed to various news outlets. Since the law took effect in Canada last year, Google has paid approximately $74 million toward a fund that supports the news industry.

“What we learned with the Canada version is that it’s possible, and that news is of value, it’s critical,” said Wicks.

“And that we should be doing everything we can to ensure that our publishers are compensated for the work that they’re providing,” she said.

The California News Publishers Association sponsored the bill despite facing opposition from tech giants like Google, Facebook and other companies. Google argued that the bill would interrupt its business model, stating in a blog post that the law “undermines news in California.” Earlier this year, Google removed links to California news sites from online search results as a show of power to push back against the bill.

California lawmakers are also working on a tax measure under Senate Bill (SB) 1327. That legislation, authored by Assemblymember Steve Glazer (D-Orinda), would impose a tax on Amazon, Meta, and Google for the data they extract from users. The “data mitigation fee” will be reinvested into news organizations and reward publishers with a tax credit for hiring full-time journalists. That bill has been held in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Gov. Newsom: “California Is Making Progress in Fentanyl Fight”

By Bo Tefu and Joe W. Bowers Jr.

California Black Media | LA Focus

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that state law enforcement authorities seized 5.8 million pills containing fentanyl across the state since the beginning of the year. The California National Guard Counterdrug Task Force partnered with local and federal law enforcement to seize illegal fentanyl off the streets and at ports of entry along the Southern border, according to Newsom.

Two weeks ago, the State Senate passed the bipartisan Safer California Plan to address the fentanyl crisis and reduce crime in communities statewide.

Senate President pro-Tempore Mike McGuire (D-North Coast) has coauthored 15 bills focusing on crime prevention in local communities. Ten of the bills focus on evidence-based prevention and treatment solutions that address substance abuse and the fentanyl crisis. Pro Tem McGuire said the bills, “will help curb the deadly fentanyl epidemic,” and reduce community-based crimes that impact people across the state.

CalGuard Major General Matthew Beevers worked alongside law enforcement partners to tackle the fentanyl crisis in the state.

“The volume of seizures we’re enabling and supporting demonstrates our commitment to denying operating capital to drug cartels and making California safer,” said Beevers.

Before the Senate’s package of bills passed, Gov. Newsom compiled a master plan designed to tackle the growing fentanyl and opioid crisis in California. The master plan provided a framework that addresses drug trafficking, supports overdose prevention efforts, and holds the pharmaceutical industry accountable.

“Illegal fentanyl has no place in our neighborhoods. California is tackling this problem head-on by holding drug traffickers accountable and increasing seizures, while at the same time expanding access to substance abuse treatment options and providing lifesaving, affordable reversal medicine to Californians statewide,” said Newsom.

The Newsom administration has also launched an online resource and tools for residents seeking help with prevention and treatment methods for fentanyl and opioidrelated substance abuse at opioids.ca.gov

The Dark Legacy of Slavery Still Impacts Our Black Children 161 Years After Emancipation

By Darryl White Special to California Black Media Partners

As we celebrate the 159th anniversary of Juneteenth, I cannot help but think of how far we still have to go to reach a level of equity in America. The cornerstone of slavery was illiteracy among enslaved populations. Slave owners did everything they could to keep slaves ignorant and illiterate, often imposing severe penalties for literacy among slaves and those who taught them. They realized early that knowledge meant power, and maintaining slavery required policies and laws that promoted high rates of illiteracy among enslaved populations throughout America.

Current statistics continue to paint a stark picture of literacy proficiency among California’s Black third-grade students. Today, only 27% are meeting or exceeding the English language arts state standards. Even more disturbingly, since 2018, scores have plummeted by four percentage points. Clearly, the post-COVID era has exacerbated an already dire situation.

Reading develops essential skills necessary for participating in American society, democracy, and the capitalist system. It enhances concentration, intellectual development, higher-order thinking, imagination, and creativity. Moreover, it helps individuals understand the world around them, allowing them to take advantage of available knowledge and opportunities. Those who read well tend to function more effectively in American society and advance more quickly. Systems of advancement are often centered around testing. For instance, students must take the SAT and compete with others to enter higher education. Those who cannot not read well, regardless of their true aptitude, perform poorly on the SAT. Their scores reinforce the false belief that the SAT determines inherent intelligence.

Today, if high schools graduated highly literate Black students, graduation day would be a jubilant celebration akin to Juneteenth. Just as the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment provided access to civil rights, high literacy rates empower individuals to fully exercise these rights. Literacy opens doors to voting, fair trials, government employment, public facility access, housing, freedom of religion, and public education–transforming these rights from mere words into tangible opportunities. In this way, achieving high literacy rates is a modern emancipation, granting students the tools to realize the full promise of their civil rights. In 2000, the National Reading Panel, a governmentformed entity, conducted analysis to determine the most effective approach to teaching children how to read. Their findings–informed by rigorous, interdisciplinary scientific research from educators, psychologists, linguists, neuroscientists, and cognitive scientists–outlined five critical areas of reading instruction based on how a child best learns to read: (1) phonemic awareness, (2) phonics, (3) vocabulary, (4) fluency, and (5) comprehension. Moreover, the analysis advocates for the inclusion of evidence-based literacy instruction principles in teacher training programs to ensure educators are equipped to teach our children effectively.

Across seventeen states (and counting), legislation has been introduced to embrace the principles supported by the National Reading Panel and other literacy experts. Now, California stands poised to follow suit. The Black Parallel School Board fully supported Assembly Bill 2222 (Rubio), which introduced legislation in February 2024 requiring all California public elementary schools use evidence-based reading instructional materials and train educators on providing evidence-based early literacy

instruction. Unfortunately, the 2024 version of the bill died in the Assembly without a hearing. We will again support the 2025 version of the bill because the cause is too important. Our children deserve nothing less.

Learning to read is a civil right. Therefore, the movement to ensure that all students learn to read well can be seen as the catalyst to emancipate BIPOC people trapped at the lower rungs of the education ladder. Until we assure every parent/caregiver in California that their public education system can and will prioritize teaching their children to read, Black children will continue to experience high rates of illiteracy and inequity.

Just as the Emancipation Proclamation freed enslaved individuals, evidence-based early literacy instruction will free BIPOC people from the historical and cultural enslavement of lower-class citizenship and liberate students from educational inequity, empowering them to fully participate in society and achieve their potential. The right to Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is meaningless if an educational system created through civil rights fails to promote literacy, as it has then certainly failed to educate.

About the Author Darryl White Sr. has been a teacher, curriculum specialist, race/human relations/equity trainer, and innercity elementary, middle, and high school administrator.  As a middle school principal, he provided the leadership to move Vallejo’s lowest achieving middle school to the city’s best (includes charter schools) in only three years while improving the school’s Academic Performance Index (API) over 100 points.

Gen-Z Will Save Us All

That’s Why They’re Being Censored

By Sam Judy Dallas Weekly Magazine

As the TikTok Ban makes its way to the US Senate, progressive organizations on college campuses advocating for Palestine are targets of a new resolution signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott. Generation-Z, with higher rates of diversity, civic engagement, and education, could be the spark that manifests a radical shift in US politics. And that’s precisely why our current political leaders fear them. One thing the United States government hates with a fiery, intense passion – more than terrorism, more than world hunger, and more than homelessness – is a constituent educated to the unsavory aspects of western culture and politics. I don’t think this, I know this. How else could you explain legislation on a social media platform, primarily distinct as it’s become an oasis for progressive awakening and radicalization, advancing faster and with more bipartisan support than policies like marijuana legalization, universal healthcare, or divestment from foreign wars, that are well-received across the political spectrum?

Even as congressional action will progress slowly on this legislative initiative, it’s considered widely to be largely agreeable within the halls of the House and the Senate building. It’s like Nancy says, “Tic-tac-toe, a winner. A winner.”

But unintelligible ramblings from someone’s grandmother aside, the high-ranking Democrat and Ronald Reagan fan speaks subjectively on the TikTok ban when stating that this “is not an attempt to ban TikTok, it’s an attempt to make TikTok better.” Because what’s good for the US government is not always good for the people of this country.

So no, I don’t think it’s a coincidence that a platform mainly used by young Americans, who have either just entered the political sphere or are approaching it, is being treated as a potential digital center for propaganda because government entities can less effectively censor its content. Aside from government rhetoric on TikTok holding racist undertones, a ban of the platform would be a hit directed against Generation-Z. Our current political leaders, many of whom have made careers on blocking critical and consequential legislation to appease lobbyists, hold an enormous fear for younger voters. Younger voters, Gen-Z in particular, are less likely to go along with the status quo. They are less likely to follow the reasoning that the political establishment lays out for why our policies are so regressive compared to the rest of the world.

Whether this is related to the false depiction of

universal healthcare as inefficient and ineffective, Nestle misleading consumers and lawmakers to prevent the establishment of federally-required paid maternity leave, or AIPAC’s normalization of Zionism through infiltration of American politics, Gen-Z is not taking the bait. And distinctively, Gen-Z doesn’t seem to be going the way of the former hippies of the Baby Boom or the previously anti-establishment modern beatniks of Generation-X. In fact, they’re doubling down once they leave college. In both Texas and the United States overall, as educational spaces are typically seen as a catalyst for political awakening, college campuses are similarly receiving a significant amount of scrutiny. Gov. Greg Abbott recently signed a bill into law cracking down on ‘anti-semitism’ on college campuses.

Students for Justice in Palestine at the University of Texas at Dallas have been particularly active in organizing spaces. Working closely with other national organizations like Palestinian Youth Movement and the Party for Socialism and Liberation to organize demonstrations

Will EPA’s New Regulations

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis Jr.

President and CEO, National

Newspaper Publishers Assoc.

By responding to concerns the African American community has expressed about proposed regulatory and administrative policies, the BidenHarris Administration has proven to be a responsive champion of minority voices and interests.  Take for example the administration’s recent reversal of its proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, which are disproportionately used by Black and Hispanic adult smokers, following concerns about unjust racial profiling and targeting.  Through the Affordable Connectivity Program, the Biden-Harris Administration connected over 5 million Black households to affordable, high-speed Internet, bridging the digital divide for millions of African American families across the nation.

As the Biden-Harris 2024 presidential campaign continues to gain momentum among African Americans and other communities of color, I encourage the campaign to remain responsive to the issues and needs of those communities that will provide a solid base for the Democratic Party in the 2024 national elections. Recent national polls continue to indicate that the BidenHarris campaign still has some work to do to match the Democratic voter turnout that was achieved in 2016 and 2020, so responding to these concerns can pay significant dividends in this respect.

One area where Biden-Harris can energize African American voter turnout is addressing their frustration over the rising cost of living, which is often driven by higher energy prices. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, this kind of economic pain has fallen more on Black Americans than White Americans.

I applaud my dear friend and colleague Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan who has been a strong advocate for environmental justice and equality for all Americans, and in particular for minority communities.

In a recent speech at my Alma mater, Howard University, one of the nation’s most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Administrator Regan announced that the EPA would like to eventually shut down existing coal plants and ban new natural gas plants

advocating for the people of Palestine and condemning the actions of Israel, students are under threat of censorship from their university and even expulsion, as outlined by Abbott’s measure.

“By misrepresenting pro-Palestinian demands for justices, he tarnishes the reputation of Palestinian and pro-Palestinian activists while claiming to protect students’ rights,“ SJP of UTD said in a statement last month. “[Abbott] is aware that student-led organizing for Palestinian freedom is a rapidly growing movement across our connected Texas campuses, and he purposefully seeks to silence our voices.”

While UT Austin made headlines for sanctioning students for pro-Palestinian activism, schools in California and Tennessee have had students arrested following advocacy for the people of Gaza. This confirms that Texas is not an anomaly with its crackdown on ‘anti-semitism.’

But ‘anti-semitism’ in this sense is simply a dog whistle for anti-Zionism. Ironically, the conflation of Judaism with Zionism shows parallels with the repurposing of the

swastika as Nazi imagery from its previous context across Hindu, Buddhist, and Indigenous American faiths as a symbol of peace and prosperity. Zionism, a bipartisan colonial and nationalist movement, is being more widely rejected by Gen-Z than any other age group. For many people, realizing antiZionist belief is a gateway to rejecting the colonial system overall. The United States, a colonial empire, does not like that.

The United States being a colonial empire is not an opinion. When you assess its actions across its 400-year history, you’ll find commonalities in policy from the extermination and displacement of Indigenous and Black populations with current struggles in Puerto Rico, the Sudan, the Philippines, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. My opinion though, is that a largely peaceful demographic arguing for human rights to be censored by a government that profits from war, genocide, and displacement shows a troublingly-wide moral dichotomy that designates that peaceful demographic as being in a position of enormous power and purpose. The facet of generational change makes this political wave inevitable in its influence.

Gen-Z enters the political stage with more clarity and greater respect for scientific and liberal arts institutions rather than business and commerce and more regard for workers than CEOs, owners, and landlords. This, paired with authoritarian attitudes against criticism for the government and its allies, sets an inevitable civic confrontation if lawmakers fail to rein in Gen-Z’s political awakening and radicalism. Who knows, maybe Gen-Z will completely transform our political system as they grow and develop as individuals in American society.

The US House of Representatives just passed a resolution condemning the rallying cry “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” as an antisemitic phrase with a majority vote of 377-44-1. With this, Congress continues to actively work against young pro-Palestinian activists by painting their support for liberation as a terroristic threat. As a pattern is beginning to take shape, we’re likely to see more and more legislation that imposes an authoritarian will on the people of the United States. Especially young activists hoping to make significant changes to the political system of this country. As far as the government sees it, the kids are not alright. But with a big brother like this, what’s the point of good behavior?

Enhance Sustainable Development?

unless they implement carbon capture technologies that are now emerging in the energy sector.

In his remarks, Administrator Regan argued that the mandates are necessary to protect “communities of color” from hazards at coal and natural gas power plants that do not employ carbon capture goals and objectives. Unquestionably, I know where the administration’s heart is on this issue.

However, those proposals will possibly make electricity more expensive and, at times, less reliable — disproportionately hurting minority consumers. Moreover, many of the new natural gas plants targeted by EPA provide reliable critical backup energy sources. That said, Administrator Regan presents some valid points, and the administration can without question find a solution on this issue that pleases all its voter bases.

That process can begin by creating a Biden-Harris Sustainable Development Council. President Bill Clinton established the President’s Council on Sustainable Development back in 1993. The successful purpose of that council was to bring together leaders of environmental and climate justice with the leaders of energy, commerce, and others in corporate America, including leaders from the coal and gas industries, to jointly explore ways to strengthen America’s economy and protect the environment and climate at the same time.

Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown chaired the President’s Council on Sustainable Development, and I was very pleased to represent the interests of the Environmental Justice Movement as an active member of the council. What we discovered was that the interests of corporate America and the energy sector were not mutually exclusive to the interests of environmental and climate justice.

In other words, a strong economy can and should contribute to sustaining environmental and climate matters — and environmentalists and climate change advocates can and should also work to ensure the growth and sustainability of the national economy.

I am convinced that President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Administrator Regan re-establishing the President’s Council on Sustainable Development — which will work directly with the Congressional Black Caucus Energy Braintrust, major urban mayors, elected officials, energy industry leaders, and with the advocates

of climate change and the leaders of the Environmental Justice Movement — will allow them to find a way to implement an all-of-the-above energy approach that works for everyone. The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), where I serve as the president and CEO, welcomes the opportunity to participate in such an ongoing effort and council.

More clean energy initiatives are needed and proposing them should remain a priority for the administration. That said, the new EPA policy rule on existing coal and natural gas plants should be done in a manner that protects the environment and climate while also enhancing the economy. The administration needs to

ensure that new well-intentioned mandates will not have the unintended consequences of making electricity more expensive, especially for underserved communities.

I am confident that the energy-impacting proposals now under review by EPA Administrator Regan and the Biden-Harris Administration will consider the issues I am raising with the ultimate goal of sustainability for the environment, climate, and the economy.

Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. is President and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) and a lifelong civil rights and environmental justice leader who can be reached at dr.bchavis@nnpa.org

Darryl White Sr. (Courtesy Photo)

(Photo Credit: Sam Judy for Dallas Weekly )

Corum Has Impact in Rams OTAs

Chargers Sign McConkey

(Photo Provided by Charger Report)

Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer

The Los Angeles Chargers today signed rookie wide receiver Ladd McConkey (selected No. 34 overall). The Bolts have now signed all nine members of their 2024 draft class. McConkey was a key contributor to Georgia’s run to win a College Football Playoff National Championship in 2022, earning second-team All-Southeastern Conference honors and recording career highs in receptions (58), receiving yards (762) and touchdown grabs (seven). In the Bulldogs’ victory in the National Championship game, McConkey hauled in five catches for 88 yards (17.6 avg.) and two scores, while adding a 14-yard carry. That season, he averaged 12.3 yards per punt return, totaling 197 yards on 16 punt returns.

Over three seasons at Georgia (2021-23) after redshirting in 2020, McConkey caught 119 passes for 1,687 yards (14.2 avg.) and 14 touchdowns, adding four touchdowns and 216 yards on the ground). In 2023, he won the Wuerffel Trophy — which honors the player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement — and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, also known as the ‘Academic Heisman.’ McConkey becomes the highest-drafted Georgia Bulldog by the Chargers and the first wide receiver chosen

Dodgers Betts Out for Awhile

by the Bolts in the second round since Vincent Jackson in 2023

McConkey is particularly poised to make a significant impact. Drafted to provide the Chargers with a muchneeded offensive weapon, McConkey is enthusiastic about working with Herbert. The two have already started building their chemistry during OTAs and minicamp, and they plan to continue this development through training camp and the preseason.

“He can make any and every throw, if you watch him

just a little bit you realize that pretty quickly,” McConkey told Jake Geregnani and Marcus Greaves of CBS 8 San Diego. “Super excited to continue to build that chemistry and connection with him and get rolling.” Herbert has expressed his intention to gather with his receivers before training camp, aiming to strengthen their connection further. This proactive approach is crucial as the Chargers integrate their new lineup and prepare for the upcoming challenges of the season.

Dodgers Have Epic Comeback

put on their wildest comeback to date this season, stunning the Rockies with an 11-9 win earlier this week  at Coors Field.

Facing Tyler Kinley in the ninth, Andy Pages walked and Miguel Rojas singled to open the frame, then one out later Miguel Vargas walked to load the bases. Jason Heyward pinchhit for Chris Taylor, and promptly hit a grand slam to get the Dodgers closer than they’d been since the top of the first inning. Shohei Ohtani singled off Victor Vodnik, putting the tying run on base. Will Smith on a 3-2 pitch tried to verbally call time then inexplicably stepped out of the box as a third strike crossed the plate. Home plate umpire Will Little did not grant time, making Smith the second out. Then came Teoscar Hernández, who fell behind 1-2, then tried to check his swing on an outside pitch. First base umpire Lance Barksdale agreed that Hernández did in fact check his swing, but it didn’t matter to angry Rockies manager Bud Black from Jake Cave in right field to Vodnik on the mound. Black got ejected and might have set a record for most times saying “That’s fucking bullshit” in one sitting. Had that been ruled a swing, the game would be over, a tough Dodgers loss. But granted new life, Hernández went to “RIP CITY”  on the next pitch he saw for a game-winning threerun shot to right field. Pages and Ohtani each hit home runs. Ohtani’s(20) homer was his fifth in the last eight games and 20th of the season. The

now leadoff hitter went “Uptown”

(Courtesy Photo)

(Photo: Getty Images)

(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Heath

Loose Ends featuring Jane English Headlined Carson’s Juneteenth Rhythm and Blues Celebration

By Ricky Richardson

Contributing Writer

(Carson, CA)- The City of Carson in collaboration with Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation presented the 2024 Juneteenth Rhythm and Blues Celebration. There was non-stop entertainment and many fun activities to engage the entire family. There was something for everyone, teen fun zone, arts and crafts, and display booths.

The celebration was held on Saturday, June 15, 2024, from 11:00 am- 6:00 pm, at Mills Park in Carson, 1346 E. Dimondale Drive.

Mills Park was crowded with attendees early on the morning of the event. A large multicultural crowd gathered in Mills

Park to enjoy music, vendors, and food trucks, and to acquire resources and information from the participating booths. The Black History Museum featured many items to highlight African American culture, heritage, and contributions to innovation.

Juneteenth marks the date in history when African American slaves in Texas received word that all slaves were free. The news came from Texas in June 1865; two and a half years after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation.

Entertainment on the Main Stage featured a stellar lineup of artists to provide world-class performances. The lineup featured Jane English the original lead singer of Loose Ends, Greg Rose, John “Jubu” Smith, Greg “Gee Mack” Dalton & Asia Raye, Brent Jones, Buck Jump Brass Band, Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Ensemble. Corvette of Choice, Inc. had a dazzling display of cars on-site to the delight of all in attendance.

DJ Alcatraz was on deck of the ones and twos. He played an engaging selection of old-school and new-school tracks that kept

the party people on the dance floor throughout the afternoon. DJ Alcatraz and Kenny Harris served as emcees.

Dianne Thomas, Carson Citizens Cultural Arts Foundation welcomed everyone to this wonderful and exciting celebration of African American culture and heritage.

Pastor Terry Brown, Judson Baptist Church delivered the Invocation on this warm, pleasant, and sunny day.

The crowd sang “Lift Every Voice and Sing” followed by Pastor Ealey, Prevailing in Christ Ministries, who gave a brief speech

“The Meaning of Juneteenth” by addressing the questions of what it means and why should it matter.

Buck Jump Brass Band performed a spirited version of “When The Saints Go Marching In.” Our musical journey continued in New Orleans as the band performed “The Preacher,” and “Bourbon Street Parade” as they second lined around the park.

Buck Jump Brass Band consists of Kenny Sara on drums, Randall Willis on tenor sax, Jeff Kaye on trumpet, and John Moore on tuba.      Brent Jones brought the church to Mills Park. They performed a roof-raising, handclapping, and foot-stomping set of gospel music. Attendees had a jubilant and joyous time throughout their set. The group performed a gospel remix of “Outstanding,” “Open Your Mouth and Say Something,” “Nothing Else Matters,” and “Live Your Best Life.”

Dembrebrah West African Drum and Dance Ensemble took the crowd on a cultural journey to West Africa with an energetic performance of drumming and dancing followed by audience participation.

Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes led Carson City

Councilmembers and other elected officials in a second line around the park. Buck Jump Brass Band provided the soundtrack for the parade.

The Jubu Smith Experience cranked it up to entertain the crowd with several tracks. “I Believe,” “Come Gather Around,”

“Why Break Mine,” and “In the Garden” with a reggae groove. The set featured the soulful vocals and fiery guitar riffs of John “Jubu” Smith, Quantay Johnson on bass, Donald Haynes on sax, Craig Rockman on keyboards, and Pastor Nissan Stewart on drums.      Greg “Gee Mack” Dalton (guitarist) & Asia Raye (vocalist) thoroughly entertained the captivated crowd with a set of classic soul and R&B selections. The party people/grown folks stayed on the dance floor throughout their crowd-pleasing set. They concluded their set with a relevant and classic song by James Brown, “Say

a party going on. Their set was lit! as they performed classic hits from their catalog.

Mack 10 Received a ‘Key to the City’ in the City of Champions

to all the Father’s and all of the people serving in the role of fathers. The Juneteenth Father’s Celebration honored amazing men from the community for their positive and impactful roles.

Street. Peewee was also present for the celebration.

the annual Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration, Sunday, June 16, 2024.

This popular event was held on Father’s Day. Shout out

This signature event in the City of Champions was held on a bright, warm, and sunny day on Market Street, between Manchester and Regent.

Hundreds came out to partake and enjoy and celebrate the rich African American culture and heritage. It didn’t take long for attendees to feel the vibes as they strolled up and down-Market Street.

The south end of Market Street contained various food trucks serving up delicious cuisine to satisfy a myriad of palettes.

There were many options to engage in your daily retail therapy. Vendors engaged with a diverse crowd in attendance for the Juneteenth Father’s Day Celebration.

Representatives from the Los Angeles Clippers and Intuit Dome were on site to share a lot of swag to the delight of lucky recipients.

Comedian and writer ScrewRoy Rice served as emcee.

He kept the crowd laughing throughout the after program.

DJ L’s and DJ Brad Rush alternated on the ones and twos that had the party people moving and grooving while strolling with a little extra pep in their steps along Market

Excitement was in the air leading up to the arrival to the stage, Inglewood elected officials, Inglewood Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., and Councilwoman Gloria Gray, Senator Steven Braford, El Camino College Board Member Brett C.S Roberts, and Laura Richardson, former Congresswoman. The electrifying buzz was due to the City of Inglewood presenting Mack 10, Dedrick D’mon Rolison with a ‘Key to the City’ as well a Proclamation. Family, friends and fellow musicians join Mack 10 onstage for the celebration.

After official business, Mack 10 thrilled the crowd with several tracks. A local artist presented Mack 10 with a beautiful portrait. Mack 10 is the fourth recipient of a ‘Key to the City.’ Actress and producer Issa Rae was the first recipient, followed by music stars, D Smoke and Becky G.      D Smoke, last year’s recipient performed several selections to add to everyone’s enjoyment of the festivities on this historic occasion. Westside Mike and Squeak Ru also performed tracks.  Inglewood Got Talent was about to start as I exited the premises.

Follow Taste of Inglewood Experience on social media platforms to find out about upcoming events in Inglewood, especially, the return of the Inglewood Jazz Festival in September 2024.

Dianne Thomas, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes and Buck Jump Brass Band, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Jane English, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Asia Raye and Gee Mack, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes,

Jawane Hilton, Mayor Pro

District 1, Councilmember Cedric L. Hicks, Sr., District 3, Councilmember Jim Dear, District 2, Councilmember Arleen Bocatija Rojas, District 4, Attorney General Rob Bonta, Dr. Khaleah K. Bradshaw, City Clerk and Monica Cooper,

Mayor James T. Butts, Jr., Mack 10, Councilwoman Gloria Gray, Brett C.S. Roberts and Senator Steven Bradford, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

D Smoke, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Screw Roy, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

Mack 10, (Photo by Ricky Richardson)

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer

(Inglewood, CA) The City of Inglewood teamed up with organizers of The Taste of Inglewood Experience, Commissioner David Rice and Keokia Childress, to present