News Observer The Valley’s
Volume 35 Number 36
Serving the San Fernando Valley for Over 35 Years
Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California
LA Activists Drill Down on Who Deserves Reparations for Slavery
and Why
Photo by Marcus Champion: A member of the community speaking at the Fight to Save Black LA Candidate Forum in Los Angeles February 2020.
Aldon Thomas Stiles California Black Media Two bills calling for the study of reparations owed to African Americans are making their way through both the California legislature and the U.S. House of Representatives. As state and federal lawmakers grapple with whether or not the State of California -- and the United States as a whole -- should take a closer look at what it owes the descendants of enslaved Africans in the United States, a group of Black California activists are getting ahead of the conversation. They are distilling the case for reparations down to why African Americans deserve to get paid for centuries of free labor and the Jim Crow laws and other forms of state-enforced discriminatory practices that followed. They are also specifying which segment of Black Americans should get those payments. On July 12, the Los Angeles chapter of American Descendants of Slavery (ADOS) hosted a live stream that dug down into the complexities of securing reparations for the descendants of enslaved Black people in the United States. They broadcasted the 90-minute special both on YouTube and Facebook. Experts on the history of the Black experience in America laid out the case for reparations. After that, ADOS activists followed with and a no-holds-barred conversation on race, racism and reparations. They discussed how some Americans, people of other races and some Blacks, too, often misunderstand the arguments at the foundation of their agenda. The live stream featured Dr. William A. Darity and A. Kirsten Mullen, co-authors of “From Here to Equality: Reparations for Black Americans in the Twenty-First Century.” The husbandand-wife duo started the show with denouncing the notion that slavery in America is ancient history. “When you’re thinking about slavery from a generational perspective, it’s not that long ago,” Mullen said. “The legacy of slavery is something that we’re still feeling today.” Darity noted that reparations should not be distributed exclusively to mitigate the effects of generational slavery, but to recompense for all of the oppressive economic systems that have targeted Black people in America for centuries. “The case that we build in ‘From Here to Equality’ is not restricted to so-called slavery reparations in the first place,” Darity said. “Our premise is that there is a series of atrocities that have been inflicted on Black Americans that have affected their economic status. So, we begin with slavery but then we move into the post-slavery era where the first atrocity was the failure to provide the formerly enslaved with any form of restitution.” Darity mentioned the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the fall of Black Wall Street, citing it as one example of the ways Black people experienced economic violence in America. He asserted that the racial wealth disparity in the US can be directly tied to atrocities like that committed by citizens as well as systemic discriminatory practices, and it can be assuaged with Continued on page A7
The World Mourns A True Icon By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Somewhere it’s raining. Somewhere the heavens have opened up, reflecting the tears that are falling across the globe as news of the death of civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis (D-GA) spreads. The legislator, freedom fighter and justice warrior, who was famously beaten, bloodied and arrested in Selma, Alabama — and in other cities across the Jim Crow South — during the struggle for civil rights and racial equality, was 80. His death came just hours after another the passing of another civil rights icon, Rev. C.T. Vivian, who was 95. National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) President and CEO, and comrade in arms with both Rev. Vivian and Lewis, expressed the devastation he and the world feel at the loss of the two revered giants. Chavis, like Vivian and Lewis, worked with and was a disciple of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He said the world would miss Lewis’s “good trouble,” quoting Lewis’s famous call to arms. “The Honorable John Lewis was a longtime master freedom fighter who set the eternal example of how and why we all should fight for the freedom and equality of all humanity,” Chavis remarked. “May Lewis now have his rest in peace. As for those of us who worked with him and [those] who marched with him, we must keep fighting for freedom and equality with renewed vigor, courage and energy. Black Lives Matter.” During the NNPA’s 2020 Virtual Annual Convention earlier this month, attendees were treated to a free screening of the documentary, John Lewis: Good Trouble, provided by the Census Bureau. Lewis was also a strong advocate for Census registration. As he’d done earlier to honor Rev. Vivian, former president Barack Obama expressed his sorrow. “John Lewis – one of the original Freedom Riders, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, the youngest speaker at the March on Washington, leader of the march from Selma to Montgomery, Member of Congress representing the people of Georgia for 33 years – not only assumed that responsibility, he made it his life’s work,” Obama observed. “He loved this country so much that he risked his life and his blood so that it might live up to its promise. And through the decades, he not only gave all of himself to the cause of freedom and justice but inspired generations that followed to try to live up to his example.” The former president recalled his last meeting with Lewis. “It’s fitting that the last time John and I shared a public forum was at a virtual town hall with a gathering of young activists who were helping to lead this summer’s demonstrations in the wake of George Floyd’s death. Afterward, I spoke to him privately. “He could not have been prouder of their efforts – of a new generation standing up for freedom and equality, a new generation intent on voting and protecting the right to vote, a new generation running for political office,”
and Freedom Fighter
John Lewis 1940-2020
Lewis announced late last year that he had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer. However, stalwart in his resolve to fight until the end, he refused to quit the struggle. “I have been in some kind of fight — for freedom, equality, basic human rights — for nearly my entire life,” he said, “I have never faced a fight quite like the one I have now.” (Photo: Lorie Shaull / Wikimedia Commons)
Obama recounted. “I told him that all those young people – of every race, from every background and gender and sexual orientation – they were his children. They had learned from his example, even if they didn’t know it. They had understood through him what American citizenship requires, even if they had heard of his courage only through history books.” Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who served more than three decades on Congress with Lewis, declared Lewis’ death as one of the saddest days in American history. “He dedicated his entire life to what became his signature mantra, making ‘good trouble.’ Despite being one of the youngest leaders of the Civil Rights Movement, John Lewis galvanized and inspired hundreds of his peers to join in the fight for equal rights,” Waters said. “Very few people could have been harassed, arrested more than 40 times, beaten within inches of their lives, and
still espouse Dr. King and Mahatma Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolence, peace, and love. However, these principles were core philosophies to John Lewis, and our nation is forever indebted to him for his humble sacrifices,” the congresswoman stated. Lewis routinely credited King and Rosa Parks for inspiring his activism, which he famously called “good trouble, necessary trouble.” He also referred to his participation in the civil rights movement as a “holy crusade.” Lewis joined a Freedom Ride in 1961, organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE). He suffered one of many beatings at the hands of authorities when he and other CORE members attempted to enter a whites-only waiting room at a bus station in Rock Hill, South Carolina. “If there was anything I learned on that long, bloody Continued on page A2
Free!
Thursday, July 23, 2020
Free Meals to Be Provided
LOS ANGELES – Free meals for children ages 18 and younger, will be provided from July 13 to August 14, by the FNCF Community Development Corporation. The meals will be served weekdays, 7 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., at First New Christian Fellowship Baptist Church (FNCFBC), 1555 West 108th Street, Los Angeles (across the street from Washington Preparatory High School). The meals are a component of the Summer Food Service Program, sponsored by the California Department of Education’s Nutrition Services Division. “We understand the value of good nutrition and the role it plays in the development of children,” said Dr. Norman S. Johnson, Sr., Pastor, FNCFBC. “We are pleased to be one of the sites selected to provide food to community residents through this program.” In accordance with Federal Law and Agricultural Department Policy, FNCF Community Development Corporation does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability. FNCF Community Development Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Provider. For further information, please call (323) 756-2541.
8 Dodgers Focused on Racial Injustice
LOS ANGELES (AP) – NL MVP Cody Bellinger and Clayton Kershaw, along with eight Los Angeles Dodgers teammates, are speaking out about racial injustice in a video message. Walker Buehler, Kike Hernandez, Gavin Lux, Joc Pederson, AJ Pollock, Ross Stripling, Justin Turner and Alex Wood are joining Bellinger and Kershaw in matching funds raised from special edition “In This Together’’ T-shirts. The money will benefit the California Funders for Boys & Men of Color Southern California’s Our Kids, Our Future Fund. “For centuries, the Black community has lived in a different America. Instead of addressing racism, inequality, and injustice, many of us simply look away,’’ Kershaw says in the brief video released Thursday. “Silence is no longer an option. I’m fighting for my teammates, their families, and their communities.’’ Earlier this week, Kershaw, Pederson, Stripling and Turner joined leaders of the Brotherhood Crusade, Children’s Defense Fund of California, Brothers, Sons, Selves Coalition and the Community Coalition _ four of 13 organizations in the CFBMOC. The groups shared the history of racial and social inequities in Los Angeles and how their respective organizations have been working to achieve systemic change. The players discussed how they want to use their high profiles and resources to support the various groups. “Clayton and some other guys spearheaded this,’’ manager Dave Roberts said. “They’ve been shaken and so for them to not only talk the talk but walk the walk and lead by their actions, it’s very commendable.’’ The team said other Dodgers players are invited to join in at any point. The T-shirts, which cost $32, are available for purchase at the team’s website.
Roger Stone Calls Black Radio Host ‘Negro’
By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press Roger Stone, a political operative whose 40-month prison sentence was commuted this month by President Donald Trump, his longtime friend, called a Los Angeles-based Black radio host a “Negro’’ on the air during a contentious interview. The exchange occurred on Saturday’s Mo’Kelly Show, whose host – Morris O’Kelly – grilled Stone on his conviction for lying to Congress, tampering with witnesses and obstructing the House investigation into whether Trump’s campaign colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election. O’Kelly on his program’s website said “Stone could have reached for any pejorative, but unfortunately went there,’’ adding that “Stone offered an unfiltered, unvarnished one-sentence expression of how he saw the journalist interviewing him.’’ O’Kelly characterized “Negro’’ as the “low-calorie version of the N-Word.’’ Stone’s attorney on Sunday said he was unaware of the broadcast and had no immediate comment. Stone was sentenced to 40 months in prison, but Trump commuted that sentence on July 10 _ just days before Stone was to report for detention. As O’Kelly asserted that Stone’s commutation was because of his friendship with Trump, Stone’s voice goes faint but can be heard uttering that he was “arguing with this Negro.’’ O’Kelly then asks Stone to repeat the comment, but Stone goes momentarily silent. At one time, “Negro’’ was common in the American vernacular to describe African Americans. By the late 1960s, however, the word was scorned by activists in favor of such descriptors as “Black.’’ These days, the antiquated word is widely viewed as derogatory in most uses. The first part of Stone’s statement was not entirely audible, but the radio program transcribed the complete sentence as, “I can’t believe I’m arguing with this Negro.’’ O’Kelly persisted on having Stone respond. “I’m sorry you’re arguing with whom? I thought we were just having a spirited conversation. What happened?” O’Kelly said. “You said something about ‘Negro.’” Stone said he had not. “You’re out of your mind,’’ he said. The interview then continued. In a statement, Stone defended himself by saying that anyone familiar with him “knows I despise racism!’’ “Mr. O’Kelly needs a good peroxide cleaning of the wax in his ears because at no time did I call him a negro,’’ Stone said, using lowercase for the word. “That said, Mr. O’Kelly needs to spend a little more time studying black history and institutions. The word negro is far from a slur.’’ He cited the United Negro College Fund and the historical use of the word. In his statement, Stone noted that some of the program’s audio was garbled and alleged that there was cross-talk from another radio show and that his sound was cut off. During the program, Stone said the president acted out of compassion and that the jury that weighed his case was tainted. “I did not get a fair trial,’’ Stone said. “My life was in imminent danger,’’ Stone said, saying he was at risk of being infected by the coronavirus in prison. “I think the president did this as an act of compassion. He did it as an act of mercy.’’