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Press ed as born Yet persuas During his , he was adopted an Mr. Coo- ecutionalanappellate court’s dseecgoing - and Associated When heww iv C e o m o RALEIGH, (AP) A woman who repeatedar p o ch g er n d u d is ie il m as al re io re s an LA–Kthat en si nam Kev n in 200ly4 ttold theivnational iew the case and he spen dhood, his par - isN.C. E FO Gov. Newvso REsupervisor NAACP her in the in Cooperx. reasonable d allegations of evidts based on conflicti o stay hise ex ST, Calif. (A ents physied is w t a good p it re h co m v juvenile det o er q en m re n in u D ca ’s g ce es sc ar P)is– O ci

N ll d te ti ie North Carolina conference had harassed her after bei t ta y ec A o n st o m n ab ti is if g te s p fi io at ad u ab st er c evidence. yon road in gsexually n g st a mental h ention centers. In olescence living sed him at ors used to nail Co out the methods ing, keep raising Californ ing comes early n to allow ansuing ru ck by a pffi national group and her Sformer outhernboss otherthe in ea ta 1 an in ia olic o 9 ck lt p d G se 8 ro th er h C 2 , st o v . u , e L fa al er an v o Th n C er ag iforniafor ries cility in Pen te of th Jazmyned Childs al California. d o n re unaatBleast million f thise seeking . each $15 eemotional nsylvania obper escaped from three attackerin sworn testimony,e weapons were usedinvesti- have high expectatioor whose supporterrm Poshe progressivoeand li O ce ra O her mental distress that says civil n ffi g s e o s ce efore movin n Jo During his C in n w s. r Thomas sh ounty Rinaction. ho were W th the “DNA test e poliorganization could have someone’s through tical Left condoned egister he in g to with murder tria rights hite. He lainutea Ryen Future said heHall gued that ESPN for Von Millerinaccepted Alumni beesix g shouldthe solve th pet whenitsth n Hdecades saw of Famer itiall ispanic.beginning l, prosecuto r e im F te R eb F st m y In the lawsuit filed Monday in Durham County u . e en ifi ed rt 1 ca ed 9 h 1979.

He’s been involved in 37 Super Award – He founded Vons Vision for Young people to ia Ryen, theirCooper killed husban t ca . er te d that they Chiang sa se and final rs successfu arted in fryoth complicatin ly tacourt, ke plaattorneys an 1 d n 0 for Childs said she was sexually harassed id am -y an ll nt ly ce g y d ea d Bowls.

From 1987 to 2005 the Brown see with glasses.

Thus far he has helped over 5 million M th ed en u to ar rw ri e cGuire says neighbor C - bel Diana Rop sure justby o ng the cam prosecution re- th that DNA icethe Curtis Gatewood when she and hristopherld daughter Jessica ifane Doug and Peggy graduate whwas ongingteamed phigh is Rev. evidJr. camJackson aign.near e animal w witherTom and s’youth. JV Mendez at ca Prospect claims, a wCoach Robert en hyouth se rv en e e ed fo “N to ce g rw ,” b o h o Hughes. Po d an 11-yea u t er t ar t o as n omborn oncollege ut to chec testtetra-amelia d with bSan formerwhich help lawHe bconference secretary for ly is it field igger than in 2017. ing in this syndrome. al. ShNFL hosted was with was boyfr stilld holds loodJose r-old in lice found provfrom Anthe enfo e turnPrimetime imalstate y clowith a houand en depression, rcemenShe case would thingthe Walter Controlnervousness who washonored se cat. anxiety, the Television’s the bloodie Even t solvsuffers Cable highest Camp “Perseverance Award”. estrrecord evidence ieon to co oyed it. of ed o th an e a ffi m cr o v ce u an io e im d dthe g rs at le im h es rushed the is baoJV ver to the He hasntcoached no costinsomnia, Nfive ,lawsuit al h ital, ewsodifferent ld, hassistant ratedAfr sports show. high m’s decisio to the statthe trausays. e is treadat police, butcrim- as b where in mmore a. thanosp$5 e.” seeks n in the C Amtoerthank isslow it wcomThe lawsuit million sue thhis g casense thdoesn’t “I’dican like fine people schools. It spirit norinhis ofohumor. as diagnolese icans, Hthe ey re at fu ll C o y o al p if is D er n o panfirst r. rn a ca pensatory damages and more than $25,000 in punitive K p ia se ics anclass w ri o v te here at Walter Camp truly He cracked jokes while mingling the crowds during the at st o n i ch te Krause, aassault tialdamages do rs across th ing. He is ly polarionneach of expec minori v erinand claims: keeping you poli ts the 1battery, organization,” said Berman. “I didn’tthersocial hour. you can do anything want.”esaid g bshacethree ties li“I aria inv- believe 1-pound et his fo , tells th spectrumzi Contell k cus on fairticaltentional tinu infliction of emotional distress. in (5-kilogranm to get here alone I want to thank my peers Mendez. “Now I can everyone I gwent Yale.” ar ed on pa th e e w n il es d s aftedid ) cat andNAACP and not immediA2parents had high r it justice officials M at ESPN and the State of Connecticut.”

At a young age he was hyper andehis cGuGatewood re gThe ainsAssoirecomment strength. to visited th ately respond to athrequest from at if he for Always versatile while at Brown hopes despite his physical differences. “I’d like to thank e b o se b es ca t it on Friday. again, he’ll ciated Press. as a commentator for WBRU radio Prospect high. I love the kids there, and I really want to is sue a ticket The national NAACP knew about the harassment he did football, ice hockey, basketball thank my parents for believing in me.” when it received a report from an outside investigator in for ja and baseball. He was inducted into the Mendez was chaperoned and assisted by Walter Camp October 2017 that concluded that Gatewood harassed Brown Athletic Hall of Fame in 2007.

Volunteer Mike Fedikovich. “Everywhere we went in the Childs, yet took no action, the lawsuit says.

As a youngster Curtis Martin liked city, people wanted to greet him and say hello take pictures, The NAACP “is liable for the misconduct for Gatebasketball. His mother encouraged him ” said Fedikovich .“Its really like being around a Rock Star.” wood because the National NAACP ratified Gatewood’s to play football. The family were not Also named to the 2019 team were USC’s Michael conduct,’’ it says. big sports fans but were attracted to the Pittman (Oaks Christian and Ohio states Wyatt Davis Gatewood, who was interim field director and game after Martin excelled.

(St John Bosco). Joe Burrow and Coach Ed Orgeron were managed the state conference NAACP staff, “sudden On this night he was given the Player and Coach of the Year. They were unable to attend ly resigned’’ in June 2017, the lawsuit said. However, “Man of The Year Award” which is and sent in Videos because the were honored in the State he continued to show up at events attended by Childs, given to the person that contributes to of Louisiana on that evening. even after receiving a cease-and-desist letter in Decempublic service to community, country It was just great to see all the outstanding players ber 2017, the lawsuit said, leading to her resignation. gather around the banner of Walter Camp, but it was even Lincoln Kennedy (U of Washington), Kevin Negandhi (ESPN), David or fellow man.

Childs, who was hired in January 2017, resigned Martin spent 11 years in the NFL better to hear all the things they did off the field.

Fulcher (Fremont High- Arizona State) take time for a photo at the in August 2018 because she feared Gatewood “would Walter Camp All American Awards Dinner in New Haven CT. (Photo rushed for over 14,000 yards. When continue to stalk and intimidate her,’’ the lawsuit says. you talk with him, Credit: Earl Heath) The lawsuit says that Childs, now 27, first became stats are not a priority. fearful of the now 60-year-old Gatewood on Feb. 6, The slim, trim and fit 2017, when he closed an office door as they met to dislooking Martin looks

By Earl Heath cuss a rally. “While talking to her, he kept looking her as if he could play now.

Contributing Sports Writer up and down in a sexual and intimidating manner,” the “Its great to be recognized for things In a hallways of Yale University Curtis Martin and Luke lawsuit says. “Ms. Childs was afraid.’’

Kuechly spent moments talking to one another sharing off the field,“ said Martin. “That means Similar harassment continued over the next few stories about life and football. Just down the hall there you’ve done something for people to take months, the lawsuit says. are “Old School” legendary sportscaster Chris Berman, notice.”

On May 2, 2017, Childs was in a conference room During his playing days he founded former players Cornelius Bennet and Tony Dorsett signed with the lights off as she prepared for a co-worker’s fareautographs along with several others. Former Fremont the Curtis Martin Foundation. It’s goals well party, it says. “Suddenly, she felt someone’s breath High, standout David Fulcher was on hand with Raider are to provide financial-aid and hands on the back of her neck and then felt someone press his on support to single mothers, youth great Lincoln Kennedy. penis up against her buttocks,’’ the lawsuit said, adding Fulcher, who attended Arizona State, was a member charities and individuals with disabilities that Gatewood was behind her. of the 1985 Walter Camp All-American team and former and more.

“Why are you hovering over me. That’s gross.

In 2014 he was named “Father of President of the Walter Camp Alumni Association. He Move,’’ Childs yelled, according to the lawsuit. Gateplayed eight years in the NFL with the Bengals and Raiders The Year” by the National Fathers Day/ wood said he was looking for a receipt and left the room, and was a three time All-Pro (1988, 89, 90). He and his Mothers Day Council. He has also be it says. lauded for setting aside nearly 20 percent wife Judy have two kids (Kayla and David).

Childs described the harassment at a news conferThe 53rd Annual Walter Camp All-American weekend of every paycheck for charity. ence in September after she had written several letters to The former Pitt Panther may have is America’s oldest All-American started by Camp in 1888.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson. She wrote him in Camp is know as the “Father of American Football.” The personal reasons. “I have faced some June and twice in September and sought a disciplinary Walter Camp Foundation was started in 1968 to carry on tough people when I played in the NFL,” hearing for Gatewood in her second letter. The NAACP said Martin.” I faced Lawrence Taylor Camp’s vision. responded to none of the letters, she said.

Some 2,000 patrons gathered at the Lenman Center and other 300 pound lineman, but the Johnson suspended Gatewood from membership to recognize the top players in the country. The “New toughest person I know is my mother. the day after Childs’ news conference, pending a hearing School” of players in attendance that were honored She was so tough every day before going Recently retired from NFL Luke Kuechly (Boston College) and Curtis on her allegations. included: Bradlee Anae (Utah), Rodrigo Blankenship to work she would put on her sunglasses Martin (Walter Camp Man of the Year) share a moment in New HavJohnson also postponed the state conference elec(Georgia) and Derrick Brown (Auburn). Berman received and head out the door. The glasses would en. (Photo Credit: Earl Heath) tions, scheduled for October, which included a race for the Distinguished American Award – He’s been working hide the bruises she got from my father president between Gatewood and Rev. Anthony Spearwho beat her all the time.” man, the incumbent.

At the state conference that was held Oct. 5, Johnson told the delegates that he didn’t know about Childs’ accusations against Gatewood until he received her letter on Sept. 11, even though email records showed he received the outside investigators’ report almost two years earlier.

“He publicly scolded and rebuked Ms. Childs for going to the press and not handling the matter within the organization,’’ the lawsuit said. “Ms. Childs was present and heard President Johnson’s remarks.’’

In October, Gatewood said in an email that while he never intentionally harassed anyone, he realized his actions “may have been received as sexual.’’

He was less conciliatory in January, when he emailed several people, including some NAACP offigrew up in foster care in Mississippi, bouncing around to cials, asking that Childs and others be removed from 17 different homes. Sometimes between placements she NAACP membership. voluntarily slept in detention centers or jails for her own “Therefore, I would respectfully and strongly sugsafety. Her cancer diagnosis was her low point. gest on one hand, you use the list of individuals I have Now Ms. Shepherd is the founding CEO of Crusade provided, and graciously remove each of these members to Nurture Children’s Success, an Atlanta organization per the NAACP Constitution & Bylaws,’’ he wrote in that supports foster children. Shepherd has four biological the Jan. 14 email. He also asked that the NAACP restore children; Fearce is one of her three adopted kids. his membership.

Attorneys for Childs declined comment on lawsuit.

“I couldn’t afford many things her friends had,” Shepherd said, “but [Chelesa] was humble and never held anything against me because we were poor.”

Fearce said she drew strength from how her mother handled her struggles.

By LYNN ELBER “l learned the value of education from my mother,” AP Television Writer she said. “I learned how to love from my mother. I learned LOS ANGELES (AP) – Terry Crews apologized for the value of hard work. I learned how to persevere. But his comments about Gabrielle Union’s claims of mistreatment on “America’s Got Talent,’’ saying he didn’t most importantly, I think I learned how to be a black mean to “invalidate’’ her experience and regrets letting woman in America. I learned that I have something to say down other black women. and that I should never compromise on my beliefs and On the “Today’’ show last week, Crews said that always stand up for what I believe in.”

Union’s allegations of racism on the production didn’t reflect his experience as the NBC talent show’s host.

Fearce said she talks “every day” with her older sister Union was dropped as a judge on the series after one Chelsea Shelton, another honors college graduate. “She season. was a great role model to me. Watching her work multiple In a series of posts Friday on his Twitter account, Crews recounted telling Kevin Hart that he had to “acjobs and still excel gave me the motivation to make her knowledge the pain of other people.’’

Chelesa Fearce, a Clayton County student who overcame homelessness to become her high school class proud. I hope that I inspire my younger siblings in the “Right now I have to do the same thing. I want to valedictorian in 2013, stands in front of the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University. (Photo: MI- same way.” apologize for the comments I made. I realize there are She said her experience at Spelman “shaped my life CHELLE MCLOUGHLIN/AJC) a lot of Black women hurt and let down by what I said in so many ways. It gave me my best friends and some and also by what I didn’t say,’’ Crews wrote. of the best memories of my life.

Spelman had black men In a tweet addressed directly to Union, he said it

By Curtis Bunn Those desperate nights that could have broken her are and women as professors, something of which I truly was “never my intention to invalidate your experience _ Urban News Service A Division of Zenger News now the stuff of rear-view mirrors. but that is what I did. I apologize.’’

Looking out into the darkness beyond the windshield “I just tried my best to focus on the future and what I appreciate, as I don’t see that here at Yale at all.”

He failed to offer support to Union out of his desire Attending a famed historically Black college was of her mother’s car, where Chelsea Fearce and her mother had to do,” Fearce told Urban News Service, a division of to be “professionally neutral as your co-worker,’’ Crews were spending the night, her dreams of Yale Medical Zenger News. “I always told myself that the future would “truly was the best decision I ever made,” said Fearce. wrote.

Yale Medical School is challenging in new ways. “It is School seemed impossible. be brighter than this. I also truly believe that education is When he was asked on NBC’s “Today’’ about way more than I had ever expected,” she said.

“There is an Fearce and her mother moved around Atlanta a lot. the most suitable and attainable way for me to get out of Union and the show, he said that as a man he couldn’t endless amount of information to know.” address the claims of sexism, adding, “but I can speak Sometimes shelter was an extended-stay hotel. More often, a life of poverty.”

Fearce’s journey can be an example for others. “People on behalf of any racism comments. That was never my it was her mother’s car. She learned to survive on one meal On the really difficult days, Fearce said, her faith can learn [from my life] that whatever they are going experience.” a day. She stayed focused. She refused to let homelessness gave her hope. “I would just open my Bible to any page The trade publication Variety reported last fall that delay her ambitions. and for the most part, whatever page I landed on usually through is only temporary, in most cases,” she told Urban Union, who is African American, believed she was fired Her persistence and hard work slowly paid off. She corresponded to what I was feeling,” she said. “Reading News Service. “I want people to learn that despite what because she had asked NBC and the show’s producers graduated high school as valedictorian with a 4.5 grade the Bible helped keep me sane and focused. It helped me they are going through, they can reach their ultimate goals to respond to an environment that tolerated racist jokes point average. Spelman College awarded her a full understand that because of the temporary battles I was and that whatever they are experiencing in the moment and remarks. That included what Union said were mulwill only make them stronger. scholarship. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with honors facing, I would be a lot stronger in the future.” tiple notes from producers saying she was wearing her “I understand my privilege,” she said.

“Though I grew hair “too black’’ for the “America’s Got Talent’’ audience. with a degree in biochemistry in 2017.

Fearce’s remarkable trek doesn’t surprise her mother, up poor, I grew up poor in America, and I am afforded so In December, NBC began an investigation of her From there she worked for two years at the National Reenita Shepherd. She praised her daughter’s fierce many opportunities to excel.” claims.

Institutes for Health, researching drugs for neurological determination and hopeful outlook.

“I want people to know that I am always and will “I’m very confident if we learn something ... we and psychiatric disorders. Now she’s a first-year medical “Chelesa has always been a loving and studious child,” will put new practices in place if necessary,’’ Paul Telegstudent at Yale Medical School, while also enrolled in a Shepherd said. “She never gave me any problems growing forever be on the side of the marginalized and I will do dy, the network’s entertainment chief, told a TV critics my best as a future physician and just as a person to Ph.D. program at the same time—on another scholarship. up and always did what I asked her to do.” meeting in early January.

She wants to be a child psychologist.

Shepherd gave her a strong example to follow. She treat everyone I meet with dignity and respect and try to understand their life experiences.”

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Thursday, February 6, 2020

World & Nation GM Prodigy Charles Muse Recounts his Rise to the Top

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent At 28-years-old, Charles Muse is already a significant player at General Motors.

Muse, who serves on GM’s Program Engineering Management Team for Autonomous Vehicles, certainly counts as a prodigy. A graduate of Ohio State University Aerospace Engineering, Muse already has more than eight years of automotive industry experience.

His professional background includes roles as a Lead Aerodynamicist, Chassis Senior Design Release Engineer, and Engineering Operations Supervisor.

A native of Chicago’s Southside, Muse is licensed as a private pilot.

In 2019, he mentored young aspiring journalists in Chevrolet’s Discover the Unexpected Program, in partnership with the National Newspaper Publishers Association.

So, how does a 28-year-old quickly climb the ladder at America’s premier automotive company?

Muse explains to NNPA Newswire in his own words: “I’d always kind of been infatuated with cars and engineering, and I’ve been taking cars apart since I was younger.

That led me to high school, where I started to take engineering and aviation courses as well as flight training at a local airport. When I got to college, I studied Aeronautical and Astronautical engineering. And from there, I ended up landing an internship with General Motors.

“I had many engineering assignments as an intern including Aerodynamics and Aeroacoustics in my last rotation and lo and behold, I got a full time offer as an aerodynamicist. As an Aerospace Engineering graduate, you typically end up in the aerospace industry like Lockheed Martin or Boeing, but I was able to land a dream job in both of my passions at General Motors starting out as the lead aerodynamicist for crossovers.

“I was the lead aerodynamicist for the Chevy Blazer and what that basically means is designing the vehicle to be aerodynamic.

“Aerodynamics, at a high level, can be experienced driving down the highway and putting your hand out the window and you can kind of feel the air push your hand back depending on how you turn it.

“You turn your hand perpendicular to ground and the air blows your hand back so that effectively your hand is experiencing aerodynamic drag.

“And if you turn it parallel to ground, it’s a lot smooth-

er. My job was executing that “smooth” air flow, essentially low aerodynamic drag values/performance for the vehicle, and that’s a big part of what makes the Chevy Blazer efficient.

Designing different panels and modifying the design to make the car perform at a high aerodynamic level to meet strict fuel economy requirements while delivering an iconic design to the customer.

Charles Muse serves on GM’s Program Engineering Management Team for Autonomous Vehicles.

“My role as the lead aerodynamicist was developing the vehicle through wind tunnel test and CFD analysis.

“I executed the engineering and design of many vehicles, the Chevy Blazer, Chevy Traverse, and GMC Acadia

to name a few. And it was inherent to my passion. Within these roles, you interact with a lot of engineering leaders at GM; one of which is the chief engineer, someone owns the entire vehicle. They need to understand all requirements including safety, performance, manufacturing, financial, as well as customer requirements.

“At the end of the day, all decisions, whether it be from a design aspect or an aerodynamics aspect, it all goes to the chief engineer and they are responsible for the success of that vehicle, and that really intrigued me.

“As the aerodynamicist, when I wanted to make changes to the surface against the theme given from the design studio, I end up in meetings with the chief engineer to hash out what direction we want to take.

“The chief was assuming the risk and helping us make that decision. But I was really just intrigued with how articulate and intelligent chief engineers were when it comes to speaking about the entire vehicle.

“Every performance aspect, zero to 60 times, energy, design, manufacturing costs, they know everything about the car, and I just really wanted to know how they got to that level?

“And they took me under their wing and showed me that they needed to hold different positions within the company to understand how it all works.

“So, from aerodynamicist, I got selected to do a special assignment which sourcing a temporary wind tunnel facility during the upgrade of the GM facility, so they asked me to lead the project of identifying, sourcing, and creating the framework of a temporary offsite facility.

“So, we ended up at Lockheed Martin’s low speed wind tunnel in Atlanta, Georgia, and struck a deal where we upgraded their wind tunnel facility enabling them to charge more per hour and in exchange, we were awarded dedicated use of their facility for about a year and a half at a lower rate, a good business decision and I got to hire team of technicians, engineers, and sculptors, and we got all the arrow testing down there.

“I returned from this assignment as a senior design engineer in chassis working on air induction systems for full size trucks. Taking my background in chassis and engineering and exposing me to the system management team side of the business. Now I am in the total vehicle business working on the program engineering management team for autonomous vehicles.”

Black Americas Housing Crisis ’

Both homeowners and renters alike today cope as best they can just to have a roof over their families’ heads.

Homeless Population Jumps 12%

By Charlene Crowell NNPA Newswire Contributor No matter who you are, or where you live, there’s a central concern that links consumers all over the country: the ever-rising cost of living. For many consumers, the combined costs of housing, transportation, food, and utilities leave room for little else from take-home pay.

From Boston west to Seattle, and from Chicago to Miami and parts in between, the rising cost of living is particularly challenging in one area: housing. Both homeowners

and renters alike today cope as best they can just to have a roof over their families’ heads.

The nation’s median sales price of a new home last September in 2019 was $299,400, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Even for an existing home, the St. Louis Federal Reserve noted its median price in December was $274,500.

For renters, the cost of housing is also a serious challenge. Last June, the national average rent reached $1,405, an all-time high. But if one lives in a high-cost market like Manhattan, Boston, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, a realis-

tic rental price is easily north of $3,000 each month.

Now a new report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) finds that the American Dream of homeownership is strained even among households with incomes most would think adequate to own a home. From 2010 to 2018, 3.2 million households with earnings higher than $75,000 represented more than three-quarters of the growth in renters in its report entitled, America’s Rental Housing 2020. “[F]rom the homeownership peak in 2004 to 2018, the number of married couples with children that owned homes fell by 2.7 million, while the number renting rose by 680,000,” states the report. “These changes have meant that families with children now make up a larger share of renter households (29%) than owner households (26%).”

To phrase it another way, America’s middle class is at risk. Consumer demographics that traditionally described homeowners, has shifted to that of renters. And in that process, the opportunity to build family wealth through homeownership has become more difficult for many -- and financially out of reach for others.

“Rising rents are making it increasingly difficult for households to save for a down payment and become homeowners,” says Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, a JCHS Research Associate and lead author of the new report. “Young, college-educated households with high incomes are really driving current rental demand.”

Included among the report’s key findings: • Rents in 2019 continued their seven-year climb, marking 21 consecutive quarters of increases above 3.0%; • Despite the growth in high-income white renters, renter households overall have become more racially and ethnically diverse since 2004, with minority households accounting for 76 percent of renter household growth through 2018; and • Income inequality among renter households has been growing. The average real income of the top fifth of renters rose more than 40 percent over the past 20 years, while that of the bottom fifth of renters fell by 6 percent; “Despite the strong economy, the number and share of renters burdened by housing costs rose last year after a couple of years of modest improvement,” says Chris Herbert, Managing Director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies. “And while the poorest households are most likely to face this challenge, renters earning decent incomes have driven this recent deterioration in affordability.”

This trend of fewer homeowners has also impacted another disturbing development: the nation’s growing homeless population.

Citing that homelessness is again on the rise, the JCHS report noted that after falling for six straight years, the number of people experiencing homelessness nationwide grew from 2016–2018, to 552,830. In just one year, 2018 to 2019, the percentage of America’s Black homeless grew from 40% to more than half - 52%.

That independent finding supports the conclusion of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s report to Congress known as its Annual Homeless Assessment Report.

While some would presume that homelessness is an issue for high-cost states like California, and New York, the 2019 HUD report found significant growth in homeless residents in states like Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Virginia, and Washington as well.

According to HUD, states with the highest rates of homelessness per 10,000 people were New York (46), Hawaii (45), California (38), Oregon (38), and Washington (29), each significantly higher than the national average of 17 persons per 10,000. The District of Columbia had a homelessness rate of 94 people per 10,000.

And like the JCHS report, HUD also found disturbing data on the disproportionate number of Black people who are now homeless.

For example, although the numbers of homeless veterans and homeless families with children declined over the past year, Blacks were 40% of all people experiencing homelessness in 2019, and 52% of people experiencing homelessness as members of families with children.

These racial disparities are even more alarming when overall, Blacks comprise 13% of the nation’s population.

When four of every 10 homeless people are Black, 225,735 consumers are impacted. Further, and again according to HUD, 56,381 Blacks (27%) are living on the nation’s streets, instead of in homeless shelters.

The bottom line on these research reports is that Black America’s finances are fragile. With nagging disparities in income, family wealth, unemployment and more – the millions of people working multiple jobs, and/or living paycheck to paycheck, are often just one paycheck away from financial disaster.

Add predatory lending on high-cost loans like payday or overdraft fees, or the weight of medical debt or student loans, when financial calamity arrives, it strikes these consumers harder and longer than others who have financial cushions.

And lest we forget, housing discrimination in home sales, rentals, insurance and more continue to disproportionately affect Black America despite the Fair Housing Act, and other federal laws intended to remove discrimina-

tion from the marketplace.

The real question in 2020 is, ‘What will communities and the nation do about it?’

For Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor, an assistant professor of African-American studies at Princeton University and author of the new book, “Race for Profit: How Banks and the Real Estate Industry Undermined Black Homeownership”, federal enforcement of its own laws addressing discrimination and acknowledging the inherent tug-of-war wrought from the tension of public service against the real estate industry’s goal of profit, there’s little wonder why so many public-private partnerships fail to serve both interests.

In a recent Chicago Tribune interview, Professor Taylor explained her view.

“You don’t need a total transformation of society to create equitable housing for people,” said Taylor. “We have come to believe that equitable housing is just some weird thing that can’t happen here, and the reality is that we have the resources to create the kinds of housing outcomes that we say we desire.”

“The way to get that has everything to do with connecting the energy on the ground to a different vision for our society — one that has housing justice, equity and housing security at the heart of it,’ Taylor continued. “The resources and the money are there, but there’s a lack of political will from the unfortunate millionaire class that dominates our politics… I think, given the persistence of the housing crisis in this country, we have to begin to think in different ways about producing housing that is equitable and actually affordable in the real-life, lived experiences of the people who need it.”

Amen, Professor Taylor.

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Features

Students Launched Sit-In Movement

60 Years Ago:

By Dr. Kelton Edmonds Special to The New Journal and Guide February 1, 2020 marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of the historic Sit-in Movement, when four African-American freshmen from North Carolina A&T State College (now University) in Greensboro, NC sparked the non-violent and student-led wave of protests that ultimately resulted in the desegregation of F.W. Woolworth and other racially discriminatory stores.

The brave freshmen from NCA&T, who would later be adorned with the iconic label of the “Greensboro Four”, consisted of David Richmond, Franklin McCain, Joseph McNeil, and Ezell Blair Jr. (Jibreel Khazan). On February 1, 1960, the Greensboro Four bought items at Woolworth’s, then sat at the ‘whites-only’ lunch counter and refused to leave until they were served. Although waitresses refused to serve them, in accordance with the store’s racist policies, the four would continue their protest and in the following days and weeks would be joined by more students from NCA&T, the nearby all-women’s HBCU Bennett College and students from other nearby colleges and high schools.

In a 2003 interview, Khazan (formerly Blair, Jr.) reflected on the daily threats of violence and verbal assaults from white antagonists, as one caller reached him on the dorm hall phone and bellowed, “…executioners are going to kill you niggers if you come back down here tomorrow, you and your crazy friends.”

White student allies who protested alongside black students were not immune from death threats either, as Khazan recalled a white student protester explaining that their college president was threatened by an anonymous caller saying, “…if those nigger loving bitches come downtown again and sit with those niggers, we going to kill them and burn your school down.”

The Greensboro students persisted nevertheless, and soon, the protests that flooded the lunch counters of the segregated store would spread to other cities throughout the South beginning in North Carolina cities such as Elizabeth City, Charlotte and Winston-Salem, in addition to cities in Virginia.

In Virginia Virginia played a primary role in the Sit-in Movement, as Hampton, Virginia became the first community outside of North Carolina to experience sit-ins on February 10th.

Initially, three students from Hampton Institute sat-in at the downtown Woolworth’s lunch counter in Hampton and were refused service. As a testament to the veracity of the movement, within two weeks, over 600 students in Hampton were sitting-in.

On February 12th, sit-in protests spread to Norfolk, as 38 black protesters staged a sit-in at the Woolworth lunch counters on Granby and Freemason streets.

Similar demonstrations were held in Portsmouth, in the mid-city shopping center at lunch counters in Rose’s Department store on February 12th and at Bradshaw-Diehl department store later that week.

Led by students from I.C. Norcom High school, the Portsmouth sit-ins would be one of the few cities that experienced violence, albeit initiated by white anti-protesters armed with chains, hammers, and pipes and resulting in retaliation from the black students after being attacked.

Violent episodes were the exceptions and not the rule of the massively spreading Sit-in Movement. In nearly all sit-in cities, black protesters made immeasurable efforts to avoid violence at all cost since the movement and training centered on non-violent demonstrations in confronting inequality.

Edward Rodman, high school activist in Portsmouth, admitted they were initially unorganized and untrained in passive resistance, which played a role in their reactions to the violent anti-protesters. The Congress for Racial Equality (CORE) connected with the Portsmouth student protesters and over the next few days conducted intense and successful non-violent workshops with the young people.

Soon after, the Portsmouth students reignited their movement without incidents of retaliation toward violent antagonists.

North of Hampton Roads, Richmond, Virginia experienced sit-ins as well as Baltimore, MD, and dozens of other cities by the end of February. By mid-April, sit-in protests reached all southern states involving thousands of black student activists and sympathizers.

The coordinated demonstrations of thousands of black student protesters and sympathizers put insurmountable pressure on Woolworth’s, as it became nearly impossible for regular customers to purchase items, eat at the lunch counters and even enter the store in many instances.

On May 25th, the sit-in movement received a major victory as lunch counters at Woolworth’s in Winston Salem, NC desegregated. Soon after, Woolworth’s in Nashville, TN and San Antonio, TX also integrated. Finally, on July 25, ground zero, Woolworth’s in Greensboro integrated its lunch counter. With the possibility of facing

bankruptcy, F.W. Woolworth totally acquiesced and desegregated all of its lunch counters throughout the nation by the end of the summer of 1960.

The Legacies And Larger Significance Of The 1960 Sit-in Movement, Sparked In Greensboro Similar to the successful 1955 Montgomery Bus Boycott, the students’ triumphant coordinated protests in 1960 further demonstrated how mass economic boycotts could lead to desegregationist social victories, particularly when targeting businesses that relied heavily on black patronage. The Greensboro Four only set out to challenge and change the discriminatory practices of the local Woolworth’s, yet their movement expanded exponentially to ultimately bring about the desegregation of all Woolworth’s lunch counters in the country.

The students of the Civil Rights era suddenly possessed a new weapon, the mass sit-in, which would continue to be used in Greensboro and around the country in various forms. The sit-ins combined with the freedom rides led to black students establishing their unique value and niche to the larger Civil Rights Movement. Black students understood their unique, collective power and desired to harness their efforts under a national apparatus. Consequently, another major legacy of the student movement that emerged in Greensboro was it also directly led to the birth of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in April of 1960 in nearby Raleigh, NC on the campus of Shaw University.

SNCC would soon emerge as one of the most formidable organizations of the decade, elevating students to the forefront of the Civil Rights Movement.

After marveling at the magnitude and effectiveness of the student protesters during the sit-ins, major Civil Rights organizations such as the NAACP, SCLC and CORE pressured the students to collapse their meteoric movement into the youth wing of one of their institutions under their supervision.

The students however, decided to remain autonomous and formulate their own student-led organization, while still adhering to non-violent principles. The students’ decision to remain student-led received noteworthy support from several key adult Civil Rights leaders in Greensboro in addition to Ella Baker from SCLC. SNCC would prove to be an indispensible organization that not only championed directly confronting Jim Crow racism on numerous levels through organized protests and massive voter registration drives, but SNCC also further popularized the concept of participatory democracy and was the first major Civil Rights organization to evolve toward seriously embracing principles of black power ideology under Stokely Carmichael’s (Kwame Ture) leadership in 1966.

Another legacy of the 1960 sit-in movement was that it offered the inspiration and blueprint for the second and more colossal wave of mass student protest in Greensboro in 1963. The 1963 student demonstrations in Greensboro would be even more locally successful than their predecessor as they desegregated all remaining businesses in downtown Greensboro and the student leader of the second wave of sit-ins, Jesse Jackson, would parlay his leadership in the student protests onto the national Civil Rights stage throughout the 20th century. Similar to Greensboro, other cities throughout the South would experience a second and even third wave of similar protests to successfully desegregate other remaining businesses throughout the decade.

Ultimately, all mass student protests of the 1960s and thereafter owe their viability to the student-led Greensboro protests of 1960, including student black power activists and anti-war activists of the late 60s and 70s. Although its origins predate 1960, even one of the largest and most noteworthy national student organizations, Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), owe its resurgence and major elements of its effectiveness to the spark ignited by the Greensboro Four on February 1, 1960.

Even recent episodes of student activism exhibited in the Ferguson, Missouri protests of 2014-15, as well as the student protests led by black students at the University of Missouri in 2015, which ultimately led to the resignation of the chancellor, have attributes that correlate to the 1960 student movement. The student movement of 1960, ignited by the Greensboro Four, provided a blueprint for future students to build upon, perfect, and utilize in a variety of ways for a plethora of circumstances.

Most importantly, what happened in 1960 showed young people the power they possessed to address their grievances and ultimately bring about change on both local and national levels if they organized themselves and remained committed.

Unique Weapons for Non-violent Students In addition to the typical traits that come along with youthfulness such as idealism and impatience, student success during the 1960 sit-ins and thereafter was directly affixed to two distinct assets possessed by students juxtaposed to their older adult activist counterparts. The first asset is condense demographics, as student-body populations were primarily located on campuses and/or nearby the colleges.

The fact that hundreds to thousands of students in a college town lived within a square mile of each other led to the expeditious mobilization of large numbers of people

and efficient dissemination of information and strategy.

Although black churches proved to be invaluable throughout the Black Freedom Struggle from Reconstruction to the Civil Rights Movement, there was still no equivalent amongst the older black generation to the college campus’ effectiveness as both a meeting place and as a domicile for housing and dispersing the shock troops of the movement.

The second major asset specific to students would be the relation between arrest and reprisal. At some of their demonstrations prior to 1960, older black activists strategically triggered their arrests for charges such as trespassing or loitering as a way to dramatize unjust treatment via media coverage and to pressure white officials to change discriminatory laws.

Once mobilized per the sit-ins however, student activists were able to invite and withstand incarceration for far longer periods of time and in extremely larger numbers.

Students vastly elevated this critical strategy of the overall movement. During 1960 and beyond, the enormous numbers unleashed by black student activists put unyielding pressure on local law enforcement, political officials and jail facilities. In many cities like Greensboro, there were not enough jail cells for all of the students arrested, particularly since the students refused bail and chose to remain incarcerated.

This action severely drained local municipalities of money and resources, forcing local governmental, business and law officials to dramatically adjust policies and sometimes change discriminatory laws. Student activists were able to perfect this strategy because they could endure prolonged imprisonment without fear of major job or housing reprisal.

Comparably, many older activists, whose families depended on their incomes, could not sacrifice prolonged periods of incarceration, as it would threaten their livelihood. Furthermore, angry employers or landlords, who disapproved of their protest activities, could threaten to fire them or abruptly remove them from property they were renting.

Students were not confronted with the same ramifications of these economic, employment and housing reprisals, as the majority of them lived on campuses and perhaps had part-time, albeit replaceable, minimum wage jobs, often with no dependents.

Drawing the contrast between student activists versus the older activists is not synonymous with drawing divisions, as the older activists understood the assets that students solely possessed to further the movement along. In fact, many of the older activists encouraged the younger activists and actively supported them in numerous ways.

For example, when Bennett College students, who were the heroines on the 1963 Greensboro protests, were arrested and refused bail during the 1963 sit-ins in Greensboro, their professors came to the jail facilities and gave

them their classroom and homework assignments every week. This scenario personifies the symbiotic relationship between both generations in the fight against racism, as the professors showed their appreciation for the young people’s unique and valiant position for the benefit of the entire race and future generations, yet not removing the students from their responsibilities and academic requirements.

Altogether, students endured countless hardships that included incarceration, verbal assaults and physical violence. Sometimes, attacks from white antagonists were compounded by disproportionate responses from law enforcement, as Portsmouth activist, Edward Rodman explained, “…the fire department, all of the police force and police dogs were mobilized. The police turned the dogs loose on the Negroes-but not all the whites.”

Students also understood that they could pay the ultimate price for protesting against the status quo of racial inequality, as numerous activists were murdered throughout the Civil Rights era. Nevertheless, over 50,000 black students and sympathizers participated in the sit-ins of 1960.

As historian Clayborne Carson highlighted, “Nonviolent tactics, particularly when accompanied by rationale based on Christian principles, offered black students…a sense of moral superiority, an emotional release through militancy, and a possibility of achieving desegregation.”

A movement within a movement was born on February 1, 1960 and that movement evolved into its own distinct force by the middle of the decade. Soon after the sit-ins began, students realized their collective prowess, as student activism consistently helped define the decade of the 60s in forcing monumental political, legal and social changes throughout the nation.

Finally, the black student activists of the 1960 sitins did three important things, albeit unintentional: they helped lay the foundation for all collective student activism in the 60s and beyond, they played a legendary role in the larger African-American Freedom Movement that began as early as Africans’ arrival to colonial America, and they cemented a valuable place in one of America’s most significant traditions, the protest tradition, which has continuously defined and propelled our country since its inception.

Our society, and all post-1960 social movements, have undeniably benefited from the audacity of those four brave freshmen and their actions on February 1, 1960.

Dr. Kelton Edmonds is a Professor of History at California University of Pennsylvania. His primary research is on Black Student Activism in the United States. He is a native of Portsmouth, VA and graduated from I.C. Norcom High school in 1993. He holds B.A. and M.A. degrees in Secondary Education-History from North Carolina A&T State University. He earned his Ph.D. in 20th Century US History from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

2020 Pan African Film & Arts Festival-Groove with these Movies

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer Los Angeles-Hold onto your seats. The 28th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival returns to the Cinemark Theaters and adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza, February 11-23, 2020.

Movie lovers are set to take flight on a global journey of the African diaspora through a smorgasbord of movies.

No need to pack a suitcase, you will not experience jetlag after this marvelous movie marathon.

The Pan African Film & Arts Festival consistently offer movie goers unique opportunities and memorable experiences to revel in: from debuts and special programs and world premieres, of independent films from the diaspora.

Some movies are later screened throughout Los Angeles. Some movies find a distributions deals on Amazon Prime etc.

The adjacent Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza is transformed into an African Marketplace, both floors overflow with fantastic, one-of-a-kind arts, crafts etc.

The 28th Annual Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF) will open with the film “HERO: Inspired by the Extraordinary Revolutionary Life and Times of Diplomat and Judge Ulric Cross,” directed by Caribbean Filmmaker Frances-Anne Solomon. The festival will kick off festivities with a star-studded Opening Night Gala at 7:30pm on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at the Directors Guild of America (DGA), located at 7920 W. Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. This year’s theme is “20/20 Vision,” kicking off the decade with a fresh lens and solidifying its commitment to tell diverse stories with a global, luminous

view. The opening night festivities will feature a Trinidad and Tobago live steel drum band a Caribbean cuisine!

I get excited each year when PAFF comes around.

I know that I will be able to view great films based on a musician or a particular genre of music. PAFF didn’t disappoint!

This is MY select list of films that I’m looking forward to viewing at PAFF. Keep in mind that there are over 150 great films that will be screened at PAFF. I’m looking forward to hearing about your global journey through this year’s Pan African Film & Arts Festival.

Buster Williams-Bass to Infinity, directed by Adam Kahan. Imagine hanging out with jazz legends Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie, hearing them jam together, trading riffs, then riffing with words & trading stories.

Buster Williams-Bass to Infinity takes viewers on a splendid musical journey through his life, legacy, and America’s greatest art form- the truly universal music call JAZZ! Fantasy, directed by Bishop Moore. This documentary about if or if not hip hop is good for the community.

Features exclusive interview with the late great Nipsey Hussle.

My Friend Fela, directed by Zito Araujo. This is an insightful presentation into the life and influences of the legendary Nigeria musician Fela Kuti, Afrobeat pioneer, activist, and Pan Africanist, through the eyes and conversation of his close friend and biographer, Carlos Moore. The movie features a great soundtrack. Sandra Izadore will partake in a Q&A following the screening.

One Chance, directed by Alcee H. Walker. This is a documentary that showcases the talent of five young teenage singers from around the country. We follow the

process of each artist’s journey of finding their purpose and goal of fulfilling their musical dreams.

Studio 17: The Lost Reggae Tapes, directed by Mark James. The compelling story of the Chin’s- The Chinese Jamaican family behind “Studio 17” a legendary recording studio located in downtown Kingston, Jamaica & at the heart of the music revolution that followed Jamaican independence in 1962. A who’s who of reggae royalty recorded at Studio 17 including Bob Marley & the Wailers, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Peter Tosh, Gregory Isaacs, Dennis Brown, Alton Ellis, Carl Malcolm, The Skatalites, Ken Boothe, Lord Creator and many more.

The Cuban, directed by Sergio Navaretta. A wonderful friendship develops between Luis, a former famous Cuban musician and Mina his caretaker, as he reacts, reminisces, dances, and talks more and more about his colorful past.

The Gathering Roots & Branches of Los Angeles, directed by Thomas Paige. This amazing documentary featuring a who’s who of the vibrant jazz scene in Leimert Park Village. The film features players from the L.A. improvise music scene with local legends Azar Lawrence, Dwight Trible, Kamau Daaood, Michael Sessions, Ndugu Chancler, Phil Ranelin, Roberto Miranda, and Taumbu Ector. The documentary also features members of Horace Tapscott’s Pan African People’s Arkestra, Kamasi Washington, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Brandon Coleman, Randal Fisher, Nick Rosen and Joey Dosik.

Up From the Streets-New Orleans: The City of Music, directed by Michael Murphy. “Up From the Streets” offers a comprehensive look into the history of New Orleans music and its extensive influence around the world. This film celebrates life through the universal language of music.

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Entertainment

Two Films Headed for Major Festivals

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Any studio would rarely provide media access to films that it plans to enter into several prestigious film festivals, like the New Orleans Film Festival and the American Black Film Festival.

Char’Actors and 25th Frame Films granted the Black

Press that access. Both companies are helmed by New Yorkborn actor Shiek Mahmud-Bey (“The Profiler,” “Night Falls on Manhattan,” and “Buffalo Soldiers”).

This week, Mahmud-Bey previewed two riveting short films that are sure to grab the attention of judges and those fortunate enough to see them. He has several potential blockbuster feature-length films he also plans to release this

Shiek Mahmud-Bey (seated, wearing the patterned hat), is the head of 25th Frame Films and Char’Actors.

An actor and filmmaker, Mahmud-Bey starred alongside Andy Garcia and Richard Dreyfus in “Night Falls on Manhattan,” and he starred with Joaquin Phoenix and Ed Harris in “Buffalo Soldiers.” He also had a lead role in NBC’s detective show, “Profiler.” Others in the photos are actors, writers, and producers who are a part of Char’Actors. (Courtesy Photo)

year and in 2021.

The first is “Unrequited Love,” written and starring Katja Sarkish Stewart, who plays opposite Nefertiti Warren (“Dari Ji Mi,” and “Reparations”).

The film serves up nine minutes and 11 seconds of raw emotion as the two sisters have just buried their father.

They eventually, and reluctantly, meet inside a church, and it soon becomes evident that they hadn’t seen each other or been in contact for years.

But, they must confront a couple of family secrets that threaten to rock their lives further.

The second film previewed by The Black Press is “My Father’s Son,” written and directed by Mahmud-Bey and includes the cinematic efforts of Sean Snider (“Honour Among Thieves,” “Leak,” and “Chasing After You.”).

“My Father’s Son” stars Malachi Anderson (“Affliction,” “The Fatal Flaw,” “Extrinsic Truth,”), Carol Towns (“Little Church,” “Why Do Men Cheat”), and Aqeel Ash Shakoor (“Batwoman,” “Chicago Med,” and “Iced Out”).

James Alexander serves as the photographer.

The 24-minute short chronicles life’s ups and downs for Barry Collins (Anderson), who suffered the tragic loss of his mother when he was a child.

On that faithful day, Barry’s father (Shakoor) left him alone, forcing his Auntie Pamela (Benita Hughes) to raise a conflicted and angry young man.

While Auntie Pamela leans on her faith, Barry is disenchanted, wondering what kind of God would “take his mother and his father” at the same time.

Later, when happiness in the form of a promising job offer arrives, things get even more complicated.

While he angrily rejects Auntie Pamela’s request to read letters his had father sent over the years, Barry’s juggling a girlfriend and another woman with whom he’s fallen in love.

An unexpected pregnancy brings more complications for Barry, and his actions leave everyone afraid of what’s to come.

The general contours of “My Father’s Son” brings to the screen the sometimes-rocky path traversed by men and their fathers in what some psychologists call one of the most complex relationships in a man’s life – that of father and son.

It’s a relationship that can affect others, and unless Barry gets the closure he needs, it could have a devastating impact on all of the women in his life and a newborn baby.

“Unrequited Love,” and “My Father’s Son,” also underscore the resurgence of the short film that accompanied feature-length movies in theaters decades ago.

Pixar remains the only major studio that routinely airs original short films to go along with its feature-length movies.

Char’Actors, a company of artists dedicated to acting and filmmaking and an objective to advance careers and create opportunities for members to write, produce, and direct their own works, and 25th Frame Films are jumping into the genre with other promising shorts, including “Dilemma,” a drama in which Mahmud-Bey said should reach completion soon.

“Dilemma” is a story about a woman named Lisa (Shannon Weiss) who suffers from schizophrenia. Lisa controls the condition well with her medication, but all of that changes when her brother, Joseph (Ryan Lawerance), moves in with her.

When Lisa realizes that her brother is planning to get married, Lisa stops taking her medicine and chaos ensues.

What comes next is a dilemma for Lisa, Joseph and Joanne (Warren), his fiancée.

While Char’Actors and 25th Frame Films are scheduled to go into pre-production on another film titled, “Thought,” the companies are expected to release a 7-episode web series titled “Interface,” which Mahmud-Bey said contains a rare multi-cultural cast with a demographic that pleases those from 12 to 70.

“I will find a way or make one,” Mahmud-Bey stated.

FILM REVIEW: The Rhythm Section

By Dwight Brown NNPA Newswire Film Critic They tried to conjure the spirits of La Femme Nikita and Atomic Blonde. They didn’t try hard enough.

Tangier, Marseilles, New York, Madrid… Blood is spilled and bodies are found in apartments, houses and buses on several continents in this revenge mystery/thriller.

What’s all the commotion?

Two-hundred thirty-nine passengers perish during a plane crash. An investigative journalist, Keith Proctor (Raza Jaffrey, Homeland), tracks down a member of one of the families who died on flight NE027. Stephanie Patrick (Blake Lively, The Town), a drug addict and a prostitute, is shocked to learn that the tragic incident was the result of a bomb. Proctor knows who’s responsible. He knows the players. Stephanie: “Why did you come for me?” Proctor: “You’re another victim. You’re just not dead yet.”

Before anyone can, say, “Where is my Glock 19?” the lady of the night is training with a mysterious ex-MI6 agent Boyd (Jude Law) to become familiar with the fine

arts of espionage, weapons and assassination. Memories of her mom, dad and siblings haunt her. She’s seeks vengeance. Unfortunately, her skills and killer instincts don’t match up with her will. Is she even capable?

Novelist Mark Burnell turned his bestselling book into a screenplay. Not much is lost in the screen adaptation.

Stephanie, as the unlikely protagonist, does just enough to pull you into her plight. You’ll want to see if she can step up and do the unconscionable to the deplorables.

Pity her transformation from hooker to slayer in a 30-day window doesn’t add up. It’s an unlikely transformation, implausible, improbable at best. If she had started out as a former spy, soldier, markswoman, decathlete— something—you might believe she could turn herself into a fight machine. There is nothing on view that shows she can do the job. The film embraces her ineptness, making it part of her persona. But her bumbling executions wear thin fast. It’s a device that might have worked in the novel. On screen, she just looks feeble.

Guiding the actors and tech crew through the pro-

Sterling K. Brown in The Rhythm Section. (Courtesy Photo)

cess is Reed Morano, the Emmy-winning director of the very evocative Prime Video series The Handsmaid’s Tale and Starz’s show Power. She made a name for herself as a cinematographer with TV projects (Beyoncé Lemonade).

Evidence of her visual flare is in the film’s look and footage.

Shots of international cities and landscapes (cinematographer Sean Bobbitt, 12 Years A Slave) look spectacular.

The camera loves close-ups of characters, chest and up. Jittery, arty camerawork follows Stephanie as she runs down streets. Overall color choices (art director Didac Bono), costumes (Eimer Ni Mhaoldomhnaigh, The Fall), production design (Tom Conroy) and set decoration (Crispian Sallis) are unquestionable and fit the locations and genre.

If this film wanted to be included in the same breath as top espionage movies (e.g. Bourne Identity, Carlos) or impress action/thriller fans, it needed intriguing action scenes with dazzling choreography. Fights, gun battles, car chases—those are the staples of these types of films, and unless you get them right, or climb to new heights, they become liabilities. Stephanie’s exploits are never amazing, uncanny. The exception may be the climax of the film, which upon afterthought is ironic and cathartic.

Blake Lively is a strong actress, which she evidenced in the movie The Town. However, she never rises to this occasion, or brings her menacing up to a level that would threaten anybody. Anne Parillaud did in Luc Besson’s La Femme Nikita. She blazed a trail. The other actress who bitch-slapped the genre is Charlize Theron in Atomic Blonde. Her interpretation of Lorraine Broughton, an undercover MI6 agent, is classic. That character is a badass killer who can take a bullet with the best of them, then gun you down. Since Lively never takes her role to that edge,

the entire film suffers.

Raza Jaffrey fairs well as the brave journalist. Jude Law has been better in other films and does little to leave his mark on the rogue agent. There is a scary calmness to Tawfeek Barhom’s (Mary Magdalene) portrayal as the suspect Reza. Sterling K. Brown, as an information go-between tied to terrorists and spy agencies, doesn’t make his character stand out. This is the kind of role actors like Denzel Washington, with his acting bravura, would make unforgettable.

It should be noted that the film’s basic theme of terrorist bombings has an anti-Arab overtone that is hard to shake. Even if a lot of the most evil players are non-Muslim, still, something doesn’t feel right.

As the film careens towards its ending, 1h 49min rolls by pretty quickly (editor Joan Sobel, Nocturnal Animals).

Were it not for an incessant series of flashbacks of the Patrick family to remind audiences of Stephanie’s torment, when really Lively’s pained facial expressions are adequate, the film’s pacing would be just about right. You stay engaged for the most part. Waiting and waiting for those scenes that will separate this movie from the next. They never arrive.

It’s said that the difference between modern dance and ballet is that one is all about the movement and the other is about position and image. Reed Morano is accustomed to shooting series that are all about the lasting visual impression. Thrillers tend to be more about actions and mindboggling incidents. If Morano can make that adjustment, with her strong sense of design and affinity for drama, her future films in this genre would be more fun to watch.

Get The Valley’s News Observer Online at www.

OGNSC.COM Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Sports

Thursday, February 6, 2020

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Superbowl LIV Didn’t Disappoint

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com NFL fans and casual football fans from around the globe got the game they were looking for when they tuned in to the Superbowl LIV. On the first Sunday in February, which should be a US holiday, we got to see the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers, in Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, for the NFL Championship game.

This would be the Chief ’s first time in 50 years competing for the leagues’ title while the 49ers were seeking their 6 NFL Championship. This game which aired of live FOX would end being watched by nearly 100 million people.

FOX Sports also estimated that Sunday’s game had 102 million viewers if those viewing on Fox Deportes or through NFL and Verizon streaming services were taken into account. Either way, the nearly 100 million people that tuned in is up 1% from last season, making it the 10th most-watched Superbowl ever. In comparison, Super Bowl XLIX set a record of 114.4 million viewers.

The halftime time show also didn’t disappoint fans and viewers alike. It has been reported that 103 million people tune in to see the halftime show headlined by Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. This was a 4% increase from last year’s halftime show. Additionally, it’s said that Jennifer Lopez earned over 2 million engagements on social media in comparison to Chiefs Quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ 514,000.

As for the game itself, football fans got to witness a great clash of the explosive (12-4) Chiefs offense versus the stout defense of the (13-3) San Francisco 49ers. The Chiefs were playing in their 3rd Superbowl with hopes of capturing their 2nd Superbowl Championship whereas the 49ers were seeking to become the third team with 6 total Superbowl Championships (Pittsburg and New England each have 6). Additionally, this matchup boasted the highest combined winning percentage of opposing QB’s with 25 minimum starts.

San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan became the second half of the father-son duo to ever coach in a Superbowl. His creativity and play design led the 49ers to the 2nd in scoring in the NFL this season. Those elaborate play designs allowed the 49ers to draw first blood in this game with a field goal on their initial drive.

Patrick Mahomes is the Super Bowl MVP. (Photo Credit: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)

The Chiefs responded quickly with a 1-yard TD run

by Patrick Mahomes and then shortly added a field goal to take a 7-point lead. After tying the game up with a

Garoppolo TD pass to fullback K Juszczyk, the 49ers had a chance the stop the clock after shutting down the Chiefs offense just before the before halftime as their GM was

The Torres players went back inside the free throw lane. It was a tribute to Kobe. Some fans wearing Kobe Jerseys (8) and some had (24) also kneeled. The tears were flowing, the gym was silent as they honored the fallen LA sports star. The only thing you could hear was the shot clock –TICK, TICK, TICK, TICK. The feeling was some loss recognition of the lives lost. At that moment someone was honored. Then the long buzz of the shot clock. The 30 second clock expired and then game game continued.

“I thought it was a great way to pay respect,” said Coach Dimas. “After all he’s done, we had to show respect.”

It was only fitting in that Kobe was a big supporter of Girls Youth basketball and Women’s basketball.

Kobe, his daughter Gigi, along with seven others died in a Helicopter crash near Calabasas. They were headed to a game at the Momba Academy in Newbury Park. Others on board included: John Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Sara Chester, Payton Chester

and Ara Zobayan.

There were several ways they all were honored.

John the baseball coach at Orange Coast College had a ceremony at the Pirates home field.

At Staples Center when the Lakers played Portland there was a pregame ceremony that included Usher singing Amazing Grace and Boys II Men doing the National Anthem.

All around the City there are many other tributes. The MTA had Buses that read RIP KOBE, store fronts placed Kobe’s jerseys (8) and (24) in the display window. One that stood out at the corner of Fairfax and Melrose was a painting of Kobe and his daughter Gigi with Angel wings both on while dribbling a basketball.

All-Time great Rebecca Lobo stated, “No NBA player supported WNBA or Women’s college basketball more than Kobe. He attended games, watched on TV and coached the next generation. We pray for his family.”

urging from his private both overlooking the field. Kyle Shanahan to call a time out at that point potentially causes them points.

However, the 49ers came out of them and took a 10-point lead on the Chiefs by scoring on another R Gould 42-yard field goal. They followed up with R Mostert touchdown to take a 10-point lead while they significantly slowing that Chiefs offense. This deficit only set the stage for Mahomes and the Chiefs to their ability to overcome being down by double digits.

Harkening back to his Superbowl LI coaching blunder, Shanahan refused to run the ball with that versatile 49’ers running game. The Chiefs slowed down that San Francisco offense enough to put the ball back in the hands of last season’s NFL MVP, and once again Mahomes did just what we all would’ve expected.

Mahomes led the Kansas City Chiefs to 3 unanswered touchdowns while becoming the first team to score 21 points in the 4th quarter of a Superbowl. The Chiefs also became the only team ever to come back from 10+ points in 3 NFL postseason games.

The Kansas Chiefs earned their first Championship in 5 decades, for the first time since the AFL merged with NFL before 1970. Not only does Andy Reid win his first Superbowl Title he becomes the 5th winning coaches in league history including the postseason. Patrick Mahomes becomes the second-youngest QB to ever win a Superbowl and the only to win a league MVP award and a Superbowl Championship before the age of 25.

Overall, this was a great game. Overlook, the mistakes made by the 49ers who have awoken a beast by allowing the Chiefs to snatch this championship from their grasp. I think this will be the first of multiple championships for the Chiefs. Share your thoughts on NFL Superbowl LIV, by simply commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or by tweeting me on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport for immediate engagement.

Additionally, subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans Podcast” which is available for you on most podcasting platforms, Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. As always, we certainly appreciate you for making our voice your choice!

Tributes to Bryant and Gigi in Different Ways Throughout Los Angeles

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer In East Los Angeles the Torres high school Girls varsity basketball team was about to tip off against visiting Elizabeth Learning Center. That’s when ELC Head Coach Maytee Dimas wearing a Lebron James (23) Laker Jersey approached the head referee and calmly said a few words.

The referee then walked over to Torres Head Coach Juan Rodriquez and said something to him then the coach nodded as if to say yes.

With the game about to begin Dimas said something to the fans and parents that traveled with the team. They scrambled a bit and they got down on one knee in the stands.

A few moments later the players lined up for a jump ball, then the official tossed up the ball. ELC gained possession and the player immediately placed the ball on the floor and took a knee.

Los Angeles Laker star LeBron James addressing Staples Center on the passing of Lakers great Kobe Bryant Friday night against the Portland Trailblazers. (Photo Credit: @clutchclipshoop)

MTA had Buses that saluted Kobe after his passing. (Courtesy Photo)

Legendary R&B Group Boyz II Men sung the National Anthem Friday night before the Lakers game vs the Portland Trailblazers. (Photo Credit: @clutchclipshoop)

Kobe and Gigi Bryant on Melrose and Fairfax. (Photo Credit: Earl Heath)

This Week with the Los Angeles Clippers

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com The Clippers, like most teams in the league, have had an emotional and interesting week. Having begun the week with their matchup against the top-seeded Lakers being postponed, after the news broke of the untimely death of 5-time NBA Champion and Laker legend Kobe Bryant on Sunday, Jan. 26. In the next few games would face some team fighting for their playoffs live at this point the season.

As you may have imagined this news of Kobe’s passing hit the league. This is evident when you hear coaches, current and formers players from Portland Trailblazers Carmelo Anthony, Miami Heat Dwayne Wade to New Orleans Pelican Zion Williamson collect their thoughts and emotions on Kobe’s untimely passing. Clippers Head Coach Doc Rivers struggled to find the words in his PreGame press conference prior to their game with Orlando Magic.

Kobe Bryant’s legacy will certainly live on through the current players in the NBA, as many of the current NBA player’s formative years were groomed by the legendary Kobe Bryant career. They looked on as he earned 18 AllStar appearances, 2 Scoring Championships, 5 League Championships while playing 20 years for the Los Angeles Lakers. Basketball fans from all around the southland converged on LA Live, just outside the Staples Center to pay tribute to their fallen hero.

On January we got a chance to hear a few select players and Head Coach Doc Rivers share their thoughts on the recent tragedy; Kawhi Leonard shares what part of Kobe Bryant’s mindset will stay with him in his own words https://youtu.be/ZijJxULVRl4 Paul George talks about his takeaways from his relationship with Kobe Bryant on January 29 https://youtu.be/dG2uqha26ck Doc Rivers shares his thoughts on how Kobe Bryant should be remembered https://youtu.be/SL8KAsk3i28 Because of the postponed games, the Clippers had a few days off before returning to the court to finished out January. In the video, you can hear the Clippers speak on

Minnesota Timberwolves in an afternoon game at Staples Center, which saw Kawhi Leonard extend his 30-point scoring streak to 9 games, that he’s played in. Coincidentally, on that same night, he was scheduled to have his Jersey Retirement Ceremony from San Diego St. University. This kind gesture, which totally refutes the recent article that there is animosity looming in the locker room, many of his teammates tied to surprise him for this ceremony, though a rookie apparently let him in on the secret.

Kawhi Leonard’s former team, the San Antonio Spurs, came into Staples Center while being their Rodeo road trip, just out of the playoffs hunt with 5-5 record in their last 10 games. Feeling a sense of urgency, the Spurs quickly jumped out to a double-digit lead against the Clippers. though the Clippers did finish the games with 5 players with double-digit scoring, the Spurs did snap Kawhi Leonard 30-point scoring binge.

After welcoming the Miami Heat, who have a 34-15 record and are currently 4th in the Eastern Conference, into Staples Center on Wednesday night. The Clippers, 2-1 this past week, will go on a 4 games road trip of their own. They will go on the NBA All-Star Game break before coming back to face the Kinga and Grizzlies on February 22nd and 24th respectively.

The Clippers have played less than 10 games this season with their full complement of players. Fans are just now able to get a glimpse of who this team can be and what they can evolve into. Even without the continuity, it will take to play deep into the playoffs as expected, the Clippers currently have the 2nd best record in the Western Conference and the 4th most wins in the league thus far this season.

Share your thoughts on the Clippers season with us by simply commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or by following me Paul George, Patrick Beverley and Kawhi Leonard unite to mount a feverish comeback to beat the Spurs on on Twitter @whatsgoodnsport for immediate engagement.

Additionally, subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans February 1st. (Courtesy Photo) their reverence for Kobe Bryant, before they welcome in Aaron Fox took his opportunity to go off for a game- Podcast” which is available for you on most podcasting desperate Sacramento Kings who have only won 3 of their high and career-high 34 points and 8 assists, Handing the platforms, Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. As always, we certainly Clippers their 15th loss of the season. last 10 games.

The Clippers responded to the loss by beating the appreciate you for making our voice your choice!

Though Kawhi was a late scratch for this game, De’

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Local

Jury Awards ExOne America News Network Employee $290K

A San Diego Superior Court jury awarded Jonathan Harris nearly $290,000 in damages. Jurors decided Harris was not harassed or discriminated against because of his race. However, they did conclude that he had complained about race-based harassment and discrimination, and that those complaints helped motivate his firing.

SAN DIEGO (AP) – An African-American man fired from his TV talk show producer job at One America News Network was not harassed on the basis of racial prejudice, but was fired in part because he lodged his complaint, a California jury found.

The San Diego Superior Court jury on Monday awarded Jonathan Harris nearly $290,000 in damages, the Union-Tribune reported. The bulk of the award was for non-economic losses including pain and suffering.

The panel will reconvene Wednesday to decide whether to award Harris punitive damages.

Harris' lawsuit claimed he was harassed at work based on his race and because of his liberal political views, which clashed with OAN's conservative bent, according to the newspaper.

The San Diego-based cable channel gained national prominence after President Donald Trump praised it, while critics have questioned its journalistic standards.

The lawsuit named Graham Ledger, the host of a talk show that Harris helped produce and Robert Herring Sr., OAN's founder and the CEO of its parent company, Herring Networks Inc. Jurors decided Harris was not harassed or discriminated against because of his race. However, they did conclude that he had complained about race-based harassment and

discrimination, and that those complaints helped motivate his firing.

The jury also found that the network failed to “take all reasonable steps to prevent the harassment, or discrimination, or retaliation,'' the Union-Tribune reported Tuesday.

In addition, the jury found that Ledger and the network engaged in “conduct with malice, oppression or fraud'' toward Harris.

However, the attorney representing the defendants said that the jury had mistakenly answered that question on the jury form.

Attorney Patrick Nellies said that was because the panel _ in an earlier question on the form _ had already unanimously cleared the defendants, including Ledger, of harassing Harris on the basis of race.

Once they were cleared of that allegation, Nellies said, Ledger and Herring were no longer part of the lawsuit.

“Because Mr. Ledger had already been exonerated on the harassment claim, it was legally impossible for the jury to find that he acted with malice, fraud, or oppression,'' Nellies said.

Harris' attorney did not immediately respond to an email from the Union-Tribune for comment on the verdict.

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