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N ll d te ti t ta y ec A o st o m n ab ti is if g te s p fi io at ad u ab st er c evidANGELES yo(AP) eing Netflix ci ing, kfood. n road – Mo’Nique ence. struck bon a mental h ention centers. In olescence living sed him at ors used to nail Co out the methods based eep raising Californ ing comes early n to allow anoth LOS in S o y a polic u th erninCits er roufor in thvegan ia Governor recognized Thursday race and sexLdiscrimination offer for e al ories in n ag if te d 2012 she has been a nationally California. ealth facility in Pen1982, Cooper esca in several thtack, and in sworn oper. Three weapo and stSince o u rm rn o n h f a ia av w o v B . f es e h ea ose supand hmillion tich igh expec e progress ns were usehas served ped re nsylvania b th te a th proposed comedy special, thePostreaming e Oranaccusing lice Officeserportshe meals tationationally ers on th iv ge C d in the over 3“D e a lowball efore movinfrom coulde attackers who werestimony, Joshua Rchef. She ns.

Duri r Thom ounwas e pof ty Rpart NA te someonoffer vice her that ofrahlarger oligiving yen ti eg White. He have been H ca g to iste is the leading authority on plant based focused food. st sa l in gued that nCg his murder trial, L e’ id ef g s so p t he saw e initially as should imm et lve the Ry when later testifiShe company tendency to underpay black women.

F eb th Further com ispanic. . e en brought a CRISPY Vegan Sweetbread, Herbed ed 1 ca ed 9 ia Ryen, their ooper killed husbanprosecutors succes t ca . te d that ey Chiang sa se and final arted in froth ly and Oscar-winning named Dia plicating the pro lace comedian id duone nt Goat CheesethMousse.

After tying of course Ilyhad tore jutake pThe McGuire sa actress says Neten to ri neighbor C 10-year-old daugh d and wife Doug ansfully ar- ban su n re g th n th se at a cu e R D st campaign. oper came tions’have ys whofenher flix were effusive in their praise work beiceofficials NA eviden elonging to te ssica an hristopher the anim d Peggy is served more. claim h e fo “N s, ce al g rw ,” b o a h o Hughes. rPJe ca d w u t w er t ar t o as an n om onfore ut to chec testits help la offered her $500,000 in early 2018 a comb ger ly isthey - believe ingvegan,” don’t said Thibeault. it pro olice found 11-year-old inal. She turned former boyfriend d with blood“People in this ca w en thanfor A nnegotiate imal Conig y clothin vand a house ca en refused se wChef who special toan further. the evidence the bloodie ould come forcemenedy t solv g its all E ven based,” tr t. o to can’t believe plant l o th an e a viole ffi cr o ce u im d destroyed it. g rs at im h es over to thweasThey nt cr iswas no cost to th Newsom , that al hcontrast shed the ble boldChef The suit says stands in dealsrureportimhand ospital, to , h on Steve Samson the owner of tr ’s e au policeAlso African Am d is w ec e m tr h st is a. ea er at io , but and ding carefu California. e it was e. n issue thatPizza. ” of millions of dollars for comedy tens spethey Superfine ericans, His diag Rossoblu Cooworth lly on a poin theedly CalifoIn per ca D panics and r. KriDeGeneres, rniaLSothern se Rock, wthe voteSampson tentialcials from Chris Ellen atch sti Krause, Dave Chapelle nose rs in event means world to me,” said an LA other“this ly ac g Several Rams join Andew Sililano and Rampage sh . ro p H e o ss a e is keepin ex minorities la v th ri p et ec zi e er n p ts in g o and Ricky Gervais, and that the streaming service was th li arian, tells tical spectru e 11-pou liv- toCgive g hthe your able, Food is fo along with Ram Cheerleaders on stage at Globe Gar- native. We have bacwith ontiback k into cus obank nuedone m negotiate are n fairneswilling to other the comics. on page A wild afternitd (5-kilogram) catth does that” s andShe den Universal Studios. (Photo Credit: Earl Heath) 2 M to just cG re ice for a boycott called a weekgaiafter uirof ns stthe e Netflix visited th rength. if he se2018 ebeen

By Earl Heath b deal fell through th inatJanuary has publicly o b es it agand ca t on Friday. ain, he’ll is Contributing Sports Writer critical of the company since. sue a The scene was set as a thousand or so Rams fans made Netflix denied the lawsuit’s main allegations tiinckaet for ja a donation at the Global Garden located at Universal statement.

Studios.

“We care deeply about inclusion, equity, and diThe Rams Todd Gurley was the Honorary Chairman versity and take any accusations of discrimination very for the 4th annual “Taste of the Rams.” He feels its his seriously,’’ the statement said. “We believe our opening duty to be involved. offer to Mo’Nique was fair – which is why we will be “It feels good to help others,” said Gurley. “Throughout fighting this lawsuit.’’ my life people have always helped me all along the way The suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court alleges that’s the way I was raised its only right to help others when Netflix violated California’s fair employment and civil they need it” rights laws and is representative of the major pay inequiA few teammates joined him including Austin Corbit, ty in all employment for black women.

Josh Reynolds “I had a choice to make,’’ Mo’Nique said in a All proceeds go to help fight hunger in L. A. County. post on her Instagram account after the suit was filed.

It’s estimated that there are 2 million people in the County “I could accept what I felt was pay discrimination or I who live with food insecurity. That means that 1 in 5 could stand up for those who came before me and those people who live here don’t know where there next meal is who will come after me. I chose to stand up.’’ coming from.

The suit claims Netflix has a corporate culture that With the system the LA Food bank and the Rams tolerates racial insensitivity and impropriety, lacks diverhave collaborated on together one dollar feeds four people. sity and underpays women and minorities. It cites the In the last 3 years the Rams have given enough for four revelation last year that actor Matt Smith was paid more million meals. for his supporting role on Netflix’s “The Crown’’ than “It’s not just a November, December thing,” said MCee “Taste of Rams” Honorary Chairman Todd Gurley actress Claire Foy was paid to play the title role.

The Rams Josh Reynolds (83) sighs Autographs. Andrew Siciliano of the NFL Network and Redzone. “It’s joins Super Chef Kristian Thibeault. (Photo Credit: And it alleges that Netflix’s refusal to deal with (Photo Credit: Earl Heath) Earl Heath) something that goes on year round.”

Mo’Nique, shutting her out of what has become an essential home for comedy specials, amounts to retaliation.

The 51-year-old whose real name is Monique Angela Hicks first gained fame as one of stand-up’s Queens of Comedy, and starred in the UPN series “The Parkers.’’

She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the 2009 film, “Precious.’’

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments that pit Comcast (CMCSA), America’s biggest cable provider, against National Association of African American-Owned Media and Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc., and more importantly one of the Nation’s oldest anti-discimination statutes, Section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Section 1981 prohibits intentional race discrimination in contracting, and protects African Americans and other racial and ethnic minorities from discrimination in the workplace and marketplace. The law applies to all private and public actors and prohibits retaliation. It has been one of the cornerstones of the oldest and most storied pieces of civil rights laws for over 150 years.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – Syracuse University has Comcast is asking the Supreme Court to rule that insuspended a fraternity and shut down social activities for all other fraternities for the rest of the semester after an tentional race discrimination claims brought under Section African American student reported being called a racial 1981 should be dismissed if plaintiffs are unable to show slur. that race was the reason behind a discriminatory action, as Chancellor Kent Syverud says the student told offiopposed to a reason. cials the slur came from a group of students and visitors Civil rights leaders urge the Supreme Court to affirm on Saturday night. the lower court’s ruling that intentional race discriminaSyverud said Sunday that some of the students accused of being involved are part of a fraternity, which has been suspended pending the outcome of an invesSection 1981 prohibits intentional race tigation.

He said even though only one fraternity has been discrimination in contracting, and protects accused of being involved, all fraternity social events would be suspended.

African Americans and other racial and Syracuse is already investigating racist graffiti found ethnic minorities from discrimination in inside a residence hall earlier this month.

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Rams, LA Food Bank Team Up

Anti-Discrimination Statutes

the workplace and marketplace. The law applies to all private and public actors and prohibits retaliation. It has been one of the cornerstones of the oldest and most storied pieces of civil rights laws for over 150 years.

tion claims under Section 1981 are viable if the plaintiff is able to show that race played a role in the challenged discriminatory decisions. A ruling by the Supreme Court requiring plaintiffs to prove that race was the but for reason of a discriminatory decision would make it nearly impossible for litigants to prevail in their cases and would result

“All eyes should be on this critical case,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “An adverse decision by the Supreme Court could imperil the integrity of section 1981 as a tool for protecting the full economic and legal rights of Black people.” (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

in meritorious cases being dismissed at the earliest stages of litigation.

Leaders representing the Lawyers’ Committee For Civil Rights Under law, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), NAACP, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, submitted

“friend of the court” briefs in the case pending before the Supreme Court, Comcast v. National Association of African American-Owned Media and Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. “This is the most important racial justice case that Continued on page A3

AfroComicCon Pop Culture Diversity

“(Convention-goers can) come away with a sense of ownership and collaboration.” —AfroComicCon founder Michael James. (Photo: Afro ComicCon)

By Gregg Reese Our Weekly Contributor The Bay Area is the most progressive bastion of the historically liberal state of California (although the sweep towards gentrification may soon turn the political tide in the opposite direction) and none of the cities and towns within it upholds the standard of progressiveness higher than the East Bay municipality of Berkeley.

One relatively unsung product of its liberal sway is the founder of the annual AfroComicCon, Oakland’s Michael James. Now in its third iteration, AfroComicCon is

a three-day event showcasing comic books and pop culture related to (but assuredly not limited to) the African Diaspora.

The event is held in the cities of Oakland and neighboring Emeryville, California and aims to be an inclusive entity as opposed to other, similar conventions geared towards special groups and demographics. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization affiliated with the Oakland Technology and Education Center.

Comic book conventions showcase comic books and related areas of entertainment, and feature exhibits, panels,

and features of interest.

Initially, low-brow affairs concentrating solely on comics and special interest groups (the first San Diego Comic-Con was held in a hotel basement with perhaps 300 people in 1970), these “cons” have mushroomed to multi-genre affairs drawing tens of thousands of participants and showcasing gaming, sci-fi, horror, and other facets of pop culture.

Film and television companies use these venues to showcase their wares and gauge public response to shows prior to general release.

Continued on page A5

Bobcat Re co Mo Nique AfSues ter Being ve Netflix for Police Car Hi Discrimination

Syracuse Suspends Fraternity after Report of Racial Slur

Teacher who Fought Segregation Dies at 106

DENVER (AP) – Marie Greenwood, a pioneering Denver teacher who devoted decades to fighting segregation in city institutions, has died. She was 106.

Greenwood died on Friday at her Denver residence, said Elder Shane Stringfellow of Caldwell Kirk Mortuary. Greenwood was one of the first black teachers to be hired by Denver Public Schools, which would later name an elementary school after her.

In the 1940s, Greenwood was a member of an interracial group that used lawsuits and other means to force restaurants and shops to serve blacks. In the 1960s, she served on a Denver Public Schools committee that studied racial inequalities in school funding and staffing in the district.

As a high school student in Denver in the 1920s, the girls’ dean told Greenwood she shouldn’t waste her parents’ money on college because she could never aspire to be more than a maid. Greenwood went on to graduate No. 3 in her class, go on to what is now the University of Northern Colorado to earn a teaching degree, and return to Denver Public Schools.

At college in Greeley, Colorado, Greenwood and other black students weren’t allowed to live on campus and were discouraged from participating in extracurricular activities. Decades later, the university granted Greenwood an honorary doctorate, asked her to speak at a commencement and established a scholarship in her honor. Greenwood was born Nov. 24, 1912, in Los Angeles. An only child, she moved with her parents to Denver in 1925.

In her retirement, she volunteered for early learning programs that allowed her to indulge in her love of reading aloud to children. That enthusiasm showed in the fluid, conversational style of two books she wrote in her 90s, one a handbook for young teachers called, ``Every Child Can Learn,’’ and the other an autobiography titled, ``By the Grace of God.’’ Greenwood’s books recount but do not dwell on the racism she overcame, except when she made a point about creating opportunities for others.

Greenwood and her late husband, William Greenwood, an accountant who once ran the budget office at Denver’s now defunct Lowry Air Force Base, had four children.

Funeral services were pending.

A2

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, November 21, 2019

World & Nation

Unique STEM Initiative News Observer The Valley’s

The initiative will scale up over five years, and it’s expected to reach 10 million students by 2025 with support from various corporate partners. (Photo: iStockphoto / NNPA)

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Discovery Education, the leading provider of digital curriculum resources, content, and professional development for K-12 classrooms nationwide, has announced the creation of a STEM Careers Coalition.

Officials said the initiative will help educators develop a pipeline of students who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM fields.

It will also provide no-cost resources to students and educators, including virtual field trips, digital instructional assets, and career exploration videos.

Discovery Education officials said these resources would help students build foundational STEM knowledge and develop critical thinking 21st-century skills for college and career success.

“Last week we launched a critical initiative about future careers, a conduit through which students can see the work of the future, and a set of resources that bring relevancy to learning and broaden our understanding of and engagement with STEM,” stated Marla Wilson, the Senior Director of the Coalition.

“Solutions to local, national, or global challenges are best addressed with a collaborative community of companies, industries, and non-profits,” Wilson added.

“This world of work is most effective when the individuals contributing to and leading this evolution repre-

sent the diversity of our communities and the richness of multiple perspectives. We are excited to work with our anchor partners to intentionally focus on girls and students of color, as we move to provide equity and access and de-mystify STEM,” she stated.

The initiative launched at the Carnegie Institution for Science, where former astronaut Leland Melvin joined a panel discussion that included leaders in education, industry, and government.

Members of the newly formed Coalition includes key anchor partners like the American Petroleum Institute (API), Chevron, The Manufacturing Institute, Boeing, Microsoft, and Best Buy. Each of those companies has provided initial seed funding and support to power the initiative’s launch.

The initiative would take place in a phased approach that includes a pilot year.

The approach should help measure the program’s effectiveness and strategically developed ways to scale, Discovery officials stated.

The initiative will scale up over five years, and it’s expected to reach 10 million students by 2025 with support from various corporate partners.

Among the components of the STEM Coalition’s work is a direct investment in schools by providing K-12 STEM career resources, STEM Connect access, and professional development for under-resourced schools.

The Coalition will implement employee engagement through mobilizing the current STEM workforce at scale to inspire and connect with future employees through engaging classroom experiences.

Coalition members will also underwrite Discovery Education STEM Connect in local communities identified by the partners.

Inspired by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the National Academy of Engineering Grand Challenges for Engineering, STEM Connect is an interdisciplinary resource that enhances the core curriculum.

It helps students build valuable problem-solving skills as they develop and apply solutions to critical real-world challenges.

Rooted in authoritative research, users become part of a global student laboratory to share data and collaborate with others around the world, officials stated.

“We really see ourselves as problem solvers, and we’re trying to tackle the world’s greatest energy challenges.

Meeting the growing demand for energy around the world and producing building blocks that we need to manufacture everyday products and to fuel the economy,” stated Rebecca Winkel, an Economic Advisor of Regulatory and Economic Policy at API. “It’s a big job, and we’re trying to do that smarter, safer, better, and more effectively every day. We know that to continue this work, we need a talented workforce. And we have quite a large workforce gap that we see coming,” Winkel stated.

She continued: “There will be millions of job opportunities that we will need to fill in this industry over the next two decades.

And so, to be able to continue solving the problems and facing the challenges that we face, we need to make sure that the next generation is as prepared as possible. Investing in education at the earliest stages is necessary to make this happen.

“Diversity, equity and access are key. We want to make sure that we are providing resources to schools that are traditionally under-resourced and making sure that girls and students of color, in particular, can have access to it.”

In addition to Melvin, guests at the launch included those identified as individuals invested in preparing the next generation of solution seekers and leveraging the power of technology to close the awareness gap.

“The STEM Careers Coalition will connect classrooms to careers at an unprecedented scale, said Lori McFarling, President of Corporate Partnerships, Discovery Education.

“We believe that through direct investment in schools with a focus on equity of access, engagement of Coalition member employees, and exposure to digitally immersive STEM career experiences, more students will have the opportunity to envision their future in STEM and emerge as the STEM leaders of the future to fill the ever-growing careers pipeline,” McFarling stated.

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PSUs Black Studies Department Marks 50 Years ’

Despite budgetary concerns, the department remains one of the strongest and longest-lasting of its kind in the country.

By Saundra Sorenson The Skanner News The Black Studies Department at Portland State University turns 50 next year, and according to faculty, it’s a hard-won anniversary--and a cause for celebration.

Professor Emeritus Darnell Millner has been with the department for 45 of those years and recalls that 1970 saw the launching of many ethnic studies departments around the country.

“Higher education had not done a good job of looking at our past, or the sociodynamics of the country, the cultural dynamics, in an honest and diverse way,” Millner told The Skanner. “It had been committed to a very Eurocentric view of both the past and the present, and the assumption that it would be the same in the future. And so, what even a small Black Studies department was able to do was to begin to change the intellectual and academic environment on a university campus in ways that were pretty remarkable and unpredictable.”

But establishing those departments was a community effort.

“The Black Studies department here and in many other places around the country was created basically by the activism on campuses of the Black student unions that had been created in the late 1960s,” Millner said. “And also, by the involvement of the Black communities around the nation and here in Portland that didn’t feel like higher education was doing a very good job in addressing the needs of Black people or the Black community.”

Millner said that across the country, many old guard university administrators and faculty looked down on Black Studies as “a political movement rather than an academic one,” often arguing that ethnic and women’s studies were not legitimate disciplines on a college campus.

Ultimately faculty, administrators and members of the public who saw the positive in Black Studies won out--especially at public universities like PSU. “The contradiction was that the universities were saying ‘This is a place where you can achieve, you can gain access to mainstream resources,’ but they were coming up against explicit and implicit forms of anti-blackness,” Prof.

Ethan Johnson, chair of Black Studies at PSU, told The Skanner. “And so they organized, and I think public education--specifically because it’s based on our tax dollars--became a central place for the struggle.”

Millner recalled coming to the university as a young history teacher.

“The universities of the country had not really trained many professionals, many black academics, many people who had an interest in making higher education, academics, their career,” he said. “And that was certainly true of me as well. When I was a young man, when I was going to high school in the sixties, when I was going to college in the sixties, there was no such thing as Black Studies.

So, there was no way I could anticipate that that would be the career path that I was going to follow. Our generation essentially created that new career path out of whole cloth.”

Struggles continue But Black Studies remains the smallest department at PSU, and some faculty are concerned by what they see as

a lack of support from the university. Johnson confirmed Black Studies has only ever had four tenured full-time professors at a time and will be losing two this year with the retirement of Dr. Derrais Carter and Dr. Winston Grady-Willis. Johnson said that PSU administrators have indicated there is no funding to hire their replacements.

In a letter to interim dean Matthew J. Carlson last month, Johnson called the current status of the Black Studies department “precarious.”

“The already dire representation of Black faculty and staff on campus will be even further diminished,” he warned.

Dr. Pedro Ferbel-Azcarate, an assistant professor who has been with the department for more than 20 years, agreed that “lack of institutional support” was a burden to Black Studies faculty.

“We’re supposed to be teaching classes and doing research, but we’re always in a crisis mode, and we don’t get enough support to even resolve conflict in our own department,” Ferbel-Azcarate told The Skanner.

Johnson pointed out that 10 Black faculty and staff members left PSU in the past year, and argued that the university struggles with the retention of Black employees and students alike.

“Oregon has the highest dropout rate for Black high school students in the country,” Johnson told The Skanner.

“And similarly, at Portland State, Black kids have the lowest graduation rate, even though academically they perform on par with other comparative groups. So it’s more a question of the financial resources that they don’t get, which keeps them from graduating.”

Johnson doubts the university’s assertion that budget constraints prevent his department from being able to maintain its faculty size.

“They’ll build a stadium for basketball, which is mostly for young black men to play, but they won’t invest in our intellectual development,” he said.

Community connections But Black Studies Prof. Shirley Jackson, former chair of the department, does not agree that funding woes are the Black Studies program’s greatest obstacle. She believes the department has not done enough to connect to the Black community.

“I started at Portland State in January 2016 and was doing my part in terms of making sure that we were involved in the community,” Jackson told The Skanner. “I wanted to have this connection where we’re not just simply this department that lives in a vacuum. We came about because of the community and the support that they gave us when we were in our very early stages. And that to me was something that could not be overlooked. But prior to my coming to Portland State, it seemed as though no one was really doing that in the department.”

Jackson also expressed frustration with the number of Black employees who had left the university in recent months, and said she is working with the president’s office at PSU to explore the possibility of reinstating a campus-wide ombudsman to better serve students and staff who experience inequity at the school.

Jackson told The Skanner she filed a complaint with

Faculty member and former Black Studies chair Darrell Millner lecturing in 1975. (courtesy of PSU) Director of the Black Studies Center Lenwood Davis (left) awards the first certificate ever issues in Black Studies at Portland State to Clarence Barry in 1972. (Photo from 1972 Viking yearbook, courtesy of PSU)

Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries last month in response to what she described as unequal treatment from her male colleagues, as well as a number of incidents on campus and within the department that made her feel unsafe. She said that PSU administrators were unresponsive to her requests for support.

Department longevity PSU’s Black Studies department has outlived many similar departments at public universities nationwide.

Millner told The Skanner this was due to the fact that PSU has always committed to funding the department through its budget, while many other departments depended on government funding that was subject to changing political tides.

“That doesn’t mean it was easy,” Millner said. “Because in the 50 years since Black Studies got started here, the Oregon university higher education system has gone through many periods of crisis, many periods of reduced commitment. And it was always a battle to protect your budget, to have the resources to continue. You always had to fight for that, and you still do today.”

Johnson points out that unlike most public universities, there is no Ethnic Studies general education requirement at PSU--a mandatory course that typically drives students into areas of study they might not have considered, and which could capture their interest and potentially lead them to a new major or minor.

“It’s not just for Black students,” Millner said. “People who potentially gain the most from a Black Studies experience are people from the majority culture, who because of

our history and because of the way that society was organized and because of the legal nature and the institutional nature of separation and segregation and Jim Crow laws, before they get here, they’ve had very little opportunity to learn the history of a race or a group other than their own.

So, it’s eye-opening for them.”

Ferbel-Azcarate, who identifies himself as the only Black Studies faculty member not of direct African descent, says that despite the ups and downs in his department, he sees reason to hope.

“I am finding that students, at least in PSU, will arrive in our classrooms with a greater awareness and knowledge around race and identity,” he said.

Ferbel-Azcarate describes the department as “both interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.”

“I’m an archaeologist, Darrell’s a historian, Ethan does work in education, Shirley’s a sociologist,” he said. “Some people are Black Studies-focused. So you get exposed to different ways of approaching a topic: the multidisciplinary of it, and the interdisciplinary of it, makes it like a great place for critical thinking, and for the consideration of multiple perspectives.”

“It changes the dynamic of the discussion,” Millner agreed. “And it opens up possibilities and considerations that had not existed before those kinds of programs existed on college campuses, and that’s probably what I’m most pleased and satisfied with in terms of the contributions that a department like Black Studies can make to a university community.”

Ahead of Supreme Court Oral Arguments WASHINGTON – Ahead of the first day of oral arguments in the Supreme Court case Comcast Corp. V. National Association of African American-Owned Media (NAAOM), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) led her colleagues in introducing a resolution that affirms the vital role that the Civil Rights Act of 1866 – particularly Section 1981 of the Act – has played in prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race or ethnicity when making and enforcing business contracts.

Should Comcast Corporation, the plaintiffs in the Congresswoman Max- case, prevail at the Supreme ine Waters Court, it will be nearly im-

possible for entrepreneurs, innovators, and creators of color who have been victims of racial discrimination to bring forth lawsuits and have their rights protected and enforced in a court of law. Congresswoman Waters’ resolution that makes clear that the U.S. Congress strongly opposes this, and any other attack, on equal rights protections for people of color and marginalized groups under the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

“More than a century after the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1866, it is absolutely outrageous that one of the largest media companies in the world would have the audacity to petition the U.S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in a case that undermines this vital law,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters. “Nearly ten years ago when Comcast sought to merge with NBC Universal, both companies were forced, under pressure from my efforts in Congress and the FCC, to commit to credible diversity and inclusion initiatives as a condition for the merger. Today,

they are seeking to effectively destroy one of our nation’s oldest civil rights statutes dating back to Reconstruction.

In doing so, Comcast is opening the flood gates to discrimination in business contracts with no legal remedy or recourse. Those of us who know our history, understand all too well the harmful impact this could have on future generations of entrepreneurs and creators of color. I am proud to lead my colleagues in a resolution that makes clear that any and all assaults on civil rights protections for Americans – particularly people of color and other marginalized groups – will not be tolerated by the U.S. Congress.”

In the aftermath of the Civil War, African Americans suffered through a tumultuous integration. They were systematically and routinely subject to laws, such as the Black Codes, which were designed to restrict African American’s freedom and keep formerly enslaved persons from thriving in society. In response, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Act of 1866.

Since their inception, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Section 1981 of the Act have made it unlawful for any citizen to be denied equal rights and equitable treatment on the basis of race; protected people of color from discrimination when forming business contracts; and provided a legal pathway for those who have been racially discriminated against to seek justice.

Congresswoman Waters’ resolution is supported by Reps. Karen Bass (CA-37), Andre Carson (IN-7), Yvette Clarke (NY-9), Danny Davis (IL-7), Al Green (TX9), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Barbara Lee (CA-13), and Bennie Thompson (MS-2), and acknowledges the history and significance of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Section 1981 of the Act, and their integral role as a key pillar of civil rights jurisprudence.

Continued on page A3

Thursday, November 21, 2019

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A3

Features

Tennessee Student is Centennial Scholar Recipient of the Ossie Davis Scholarship

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior Correspondent Nora Davis Day and her sister, Dr. Hasna Muhammad, never seem to tire of talking about their famous parents – Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee. Along with their brother, Guy Davis, the two have worked to live up to their iconic parents’ civil rights and philanthropic legacy.

Earlier this month, after a rigorous selection process, the family of the late actors and activists, together with the United Negro College Fund (UNCF), announced that Lane College senior, Jade Allen, is the recipient of the Ossie Davis Legacy Scholarship.

“We are always motivated by mom and dad’s love of education and what a struggle it was for each of them to get higher education and the sacrifices that their parents made,” Davis Day told NNPA Newswire.

“So, when we’re reading all of these applications, I remember with Jade something just clicked, and we said yes, that [our] dad would want us to give her this $10,000,” Davis Day stated.

Both Nora and I are educators, and we’ve had the opportunity to deal with students in public and through to higher education,” Dr. Muhammad stated.

“One of the things relative to choosing Jade for the scholarship is that we recognized the quality student in her, and we did so not only from the emotional component of trying to choose a candidate but as educators as well.”

The sisters said their parents weren’t much for naming anything after themselves, so it was not easy to put Ossie Davis’ name on the scholarship.

“But we know that they would want us to be part of making it possible for someone to get an education and to have money where they might not otherwise have been able to get it,” Davis Day stated.

Allen, a senior Communications major at Lane College, a historically black college located in Jackson, Tennessee, is currently the highest-ranking senior in her graduating class.

She maintains a 3.9 GPA, and in honor of what would have been Ossie Davis’ 100th birthday, Allen is acknowledged as the scholarship’s Centennial Scholar.

“It is an honor to receive it, I’m thrilled,” Allen told NNPA Newswire.

“This does relieve any stress, and I can further my education in my chosen field without worrying about [money].”

Known as much for their activism as their award-winning stage and film careers, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were both named to the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame. They each were recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors and the National Medal of Arts.

Davis was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame and starred in films like “The Joe Louis Story,” “Malcolm X,” and “Dr. Doolittle.”

Dee counted a Grammy, Emmy, Obie, and Drama Desk Award winner, who starred in such films as, “The Jackie Robinson Story,” “A Raisin’ in the Sun,” and “American Gangster.”

For her “American Gangster” role, Dee received an Oscar nomination for her performance as the mother of the Denzel Washington character, Frank Lucas.

None of that history is lost on Allen, who has already completed her first film, “My Father’s Grass.” She said she plans to continue creating biopics that highlight a myriad of world cultures.

“With the scholarship, I’m in a good position to go back to studying filmmaking and understanding the technical aspects of it, and hopefully I can get my name out there,” Allen stated.

Established by the Dee-Davis children, along with close friends of Ossie Davis, the scholarship has awarded four students with scholarships totaling over $60,000 since 2007.

The merit-based scholarship is awarded to a deserving African American student currently enrolled at a select UNCF member institution. The student must be pursuing a degree in African American Studies, Communications, Education, Fine Arts, Humanities, Performing Arts, Political Science, Social Science, Theater Arts/Drama, or Visual Arts.

“Now more than ever, it is imperative that young people of color arm themselves with the necessary tools to confront and combat many of the same social injustices

2018/19 Ossie Davis Legacy Scholarship Recipient Jade Allen (Photo: uncf.org)

and biases faced by our parents. And we are humbled by the generous contributions to the Ossie Davis Endowment that makes this scholarship possible,” Dr. Muhammad stated.

“The heart of the Ossie Davis Legacy Award is to ease financial barriers for that African American student who is on his or her path to higher learning,” she stated.

“Each year we are amazed by the academic success displayed by the Ossie Davis Scholarship applicants, and we look forward to following Jade and prior recipients’

achievements throughout their college careers and beyond,” UNCF President and CEO Dr. Michael Lomax, stated in a news release.

“Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee were torchbearers for truth, black culture, civil rights equality and the arts – among other causes. We are thankful the Davis family entrusts UNCF with awarding dynamic students year after year to fulfill their dreams of a college education.”

Ahead of the Supreme Court Oral Arguments, Rep. Waters Leads House in Affirming the Civil Rights Act of 1866 & 1981 Continued from page A2

Throughout her career in public service, Congresswoman Waters has been a leading advocate for diversity and inclusion in the media. Her years-long efforts during the Comcast-NBC Universal merger review – which included holding congressional hearings, urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to extend the public comment period, filing comments on behalf of independent minority producers, directors, and writers, and leading the congressional efforts to ensure that the terms of the merger included voluntary commitments and proposals for media diversity – led to the creation of four

independently minority-owned channels: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Revolt, Magic Johnson’s Aspire, Robert Rodriguez’s El Rey, and Constantino “Said” Schwarz’s BabyFirst Americas television networks.

As a result of her legislative efforts and commitment to media diversity and inclusion, Congresswoman Waters has been recognized by many of the nation’s leading media organizations and coalitions for journalists and communities of color, including the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), and the National Hispanic Media Coalition (NHMC).

“Since their inception, the Civil Rights Act of 1866 and Section 1981 of the Act have made it unlawful for any citizen to be denied equal rights and equitable treatment on the basis of race; protected people of color from discrimination when forming business contracts; and provided a legal pathway for those who have been racially discriminated against to seek justice.” , Rep. Waters Leads House in Affirming the Civil Rights Act of 1866 & its Section 1981

Civil Rights Leaders Urge Supreme Court to Uphold Anti-Discrimination Statutes

Continued from page A1

will be heard by the Supreme Court this term,” said Kristen Clarke, president & executive director of the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. “An adverse ruling by the Court stands to impose a burdensome pleading standard in Section 1981 cases that would shut the courthouse door on victims of discrimination all across the country. Section 1981 is one of the oldest civil rights statutes that provides core protection from groups otherwise beyond the reach of civil rights statutes including independent contractors and gig economy workers. The Court should reject this challenge to help ensure that victims of discrimination get their day in court and have the opportunity to be heard.”

“Section 1981 is one of our nation’s oldest civil rights laws, specifically intended to end racial discrimination in contracting,” said Vanita Gupta, president and CEO of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights. “Every person, no matter who they are or what their race, should have fair and equitable access to opportunity and economic mobility. The Supreme Court must not weaken the vital protections of this historic civil rights statute.”

“All eyes should be on this critical case,” said Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. “An adverse decision by the Supreme Court could imperil the integrity of section 1981 as a tool for protecting the full economic and legal rights of Black people.”

“The case that sits before the Supreme Court is one of monumental importance to the protection and continuation of Black businesses and contractors, said Derrick Johnson,” President and CEO, NAACP. “The attempt to turn back the clock on one of the most vital civil rights protections is a grave threat to the very fabric of the nation -- we will continue to fight so that section 1981 of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 is preserved for generations to come.”

Background The case contends that both Comcast and Charter Communications violated Section 1981 after minority-owned Entertainment Studios attempted have the two cable systems carry its networks and were denied.

The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law and NAACP LDF argue in their briefs that the position taken by Comcast is inconsistent with the plain text of Section 1981 and would frustrate the fundamental purpose of the provision—to place African Americans on equal footing as white citizens in our nation’s economy. Comcast urges the Supreme Court to hold that Section 1981 requires “but-for” causation if there are non-racial justifications, and that the telecom company’s claim should be dismissed without discovery or trial. If successful, Comcast’s arguments would, in many cases, impose an impossible pleading burden on victims of discrimination and prevent them from vindicating meritorious claims.

PUBLIC NOTICE SUMMONS (CITACION JUDICIAL) NOTICE TO DEFENDANT: (AVISO AL DEMANDADO): DANIEL RAMIREZ, AN INDIVIDUAL; MARIA DEL CARMEN RAMIREZ, AN INDIVIDUAL; FIRST AMERICAN FUNDING, LLC; and ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN, CLAIMING ANY LEGAL OR EQUITABLE RIGHT, TITLE, ESTATE, LIEN, OR INTEREST IN THE PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT ADVERSE TO PLAINTIFF’S TITLE, OR ANY CLOUD ON PLAINTIFF’S TITLE THERETO, as DOES 1-20, inclusive The real property that is the subject of this action is located in Los Angeles County and is commonly known as 36520 Nickel Street, Palmdale, CA 93550, bears Parcel ID Number: 3052-066-026 and is more particularly described as: LOT 48, OF TRACT NO. 46788, IN THE CITY OF PALMDALE, COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES, STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AS PER MAP RECORDED IN BOOK 1134 PAGE(S) 16 TO 21 INCLUSIVE OF MAPS AND AS AMENDED IN BOOK 1171 PAGE(S) 78 TO 83 INCLUSIVE OF MAPS, IN THE OFFICE OF THE COUNTY RECORDER OF SAID COUNTY. YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF: (LO ESTA DEMANDANDO EL DEMANDANTE): The Bank of New York Mellon f/k/a (Additional Parties Attachment form is Attached) CASE NUMBER (Numero del caso) 19AVCV00454 NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

Legal Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this Summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court forms and more information at the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfor.ca.gov/selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements.

You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www.lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www.courtinfo.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court’s lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no re-

PUBLIC NOTICE

sponde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su version. Lea la informacion a continuacion.

Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIOS despues de que le entreguen esta citacion y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefonica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y mas informacion en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov/), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede mas cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentacion, pida al secretario de la corte que le de un formulario de exencion de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remision a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de California Legal Services, (www.lawhelpcalifornia. org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las

PUBLIC NOTICE Cortes de California, (www.sucorte. ca.gov/) o poniendose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de obogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperacion de $10,000 o mas de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesion de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): LOS ANGELES SUPERIOR COURT Michael D. Antonovich-Antelope Valley Courthouse 42011 4th Street West, Lancaster, CA 93534 The name, address, and telephone number of plaintiff’s attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es: VICTORIA J. TSOONG, CHUCK & TSOONG, LLP, 700 N. Brand Blvd., #440, Glendale, CA 91203, (626) 689-4000 Date: (Fecha) June 19, 2019 Sherri R. Carter Executive Officer/ Clerk of Court, Clerk, By (Secretario) Jade Ziegler, Deputy (Adjunto) NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: you are served as an individual defendant.

LOS ANGELES BAY NEWS OBSERVER (E) PUB: Nov 21, 28, Dec 5, 11, 2019

A4

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Sports

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Oklahomas Hurts and Floridas Greenard earn Walter Camp Awards ’

By Earl Heath Contributing Sports Writer Oklahoma Jalen Hurts led 10th ranked Oklahoma Sooners to come-from-behind 34-31 victory over 12th ranked Baylor. The Sooners (9-1, 6-1 in Big 12) trailed 28-3 in the first half before outscoring the Bears 24-0 in the second half. For his efforts he earned the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week

’

After a rocky start, Hurts passed for 297 yards (30-of42) and four touchdowns and added 114 yards rushing.

The senior from Houston is the second Oklahoma player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors this season (WR Cee Dee Lamb, Oct. 13) and he is the tenth Sooner to earn the honor since 2004.

On the defensive side Jonathan Greenard of the U. of Florida posted a team-high six tackles, including five

Jonathan Greenard of the U. of Florida posted a team-high six tackles, including five for losses. (Courtesy Photo)

OU QB Jalen Hurts leads big comeback against Baylor wins Walter Camp Offensive Player of the Week.

(Courtesy Photo)

for losses, and two quarterback sacks as 11th ranked Florida defeated Missouri, 23-6. Greenard, also added one quarterback hurry in the victory, he led a Gators’ defensive unit that held the Tigers to just 256 yards of total offense.

The Hirim, Georgia native is the 10th Florida player to earn Walter Camp National Player of The Week honors since 2004.

The Subdivision National Offensive and Defensive

Players of the Week, presented by Generation UCAN, for games ending November 16.

About the Award: This is the 16th year that the Walter Camp Football Foundation will honor one offensive and one defensive player as its national Football Bowl Subdivision player of the week during the regular season.

Recipients are selected by a panel of national media members and administered by the Foundation.

Heavyweight Championship Rematch Wilder vs Ortiz at MGM Grand Arena

(Photo by Edward Diller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

LXF Heavyweight Champion Mike Quintero and his team celebrate the victory over former Champ Jay Silva.

(Photo Credit Cameron Buford)

By Cameron Buford whatsgoodinsports.com To understand the animosity that these fighters have for one another, you’d have to go back a couple of years. When the mild-mannered Luis Ortiz called out Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, shortly after he connected with a powerful straight left hand and just before his opponent 6’ 7” Daniel Martz was counted out in their December 2017 fight in Hialeah, Florida. Once Ortiz started barking at Wilder, who sat ringside to call this fight on PBC, Wilder got into the ring and the two of them began the pre-fight hype for their first for Wilder-Ortiz 1.

A Luis Ortiz failed drug test prevented this fight from happening months previously. The two boxers finally got in the ring at the Barclay’s Center in March of 2018 in Brooklyn, NY. It’s common knowledge amongst boxing aficionados that Ortiz would be the hardest puncher that Wilder has ever faced. Which would make this the most highly anticipate Heavyweight fight in recent years.

Coming into the ring with that Cuban pedigree, South Paw Luis Ortiz controlled many of the early rounds, according to most people who’ve seen the fight. After feeling each other for a few rounds, Wilder caught Luis with a stiff right hand, then he caught him with another one, before knocking Ortiz down with a staggering right hand just before the bell to end the 5th Round.

Similar to life one doesn’t know their full amount of resolve until their back is against the wall, Round 6 was that moment for Ortiz. As boxing fans were anxious to see how he responded to that knockdown. Ortiz showed he has plenty heart, as each of these fighters came out swinging for the fences in the 6th round. It was the 7th Round of this fight that made it so memorable for both fighters.

Ortiz was able to land multiple power punches in the 7th round and back up Wilder. This was likely the most hurt Deontay Wilder has ever been in a fight. Wilder admits to being “buzzed” but claims he “was far from hurt.” After the 7th round, it was Wilders’s turn to dig deep and draw from his championship reserve to stay alive their initial fight.

After both fighters spent the 8th and 9th rounds regaining their energy and composer. Wilder, in championship fashion. responded with his 39th knockdown in his 40th late in the 10th round after being in trouble and being boxed in this fight. This easily became the signature fight of his career to that point.

There’re very few times in life, we get a second chance or a chance to right a wrong. This fight at the MGM Grand on November 23 will be that opportunity for Luis Ortiz to rewrite boxing history. As you may have imagined boxing’s longest-reigning Heavyweight Champion “The Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder isn’t in a hurry to relinquish his belt to Ortiz or anyone in the division.

When asked about how Larry Wade, his new Strength and Conditioning Coach, has helped him heading into this super fight, Ortiz responded by saying, “Coach Larry Wade has brought professionalism to the camp that fits right in with what we already do as far as schedules and professionalism. I got a new look at some of the stuff that’s being done with fighters. So, it was a nice change and obviously, sometimes it can be the same thing but just approached differently and the body will react better and

that’s what it was. I’m very happy with coach Wade.”

Ortiz was also asked, what has been the most unique training method that’s been implemented in this particular training camp? He told us, “There have been a few things.

If I had to pick one thing, it’s been the pool work.”

Also knowing that he is a family man I wanted to know, how will being away from his family impact the training and preparation for this fight? He emphatically responded by saying, “It will help 1000% in the discipline and sacrifice for the fight. I miss my family so it’s more fuel daily to be heavyweight champion.”

Dubbed the Bronze Bomber when he won a Bronze medal for the United States at the 2008 Olympic Games, he is an active champion as this will be the third title defense in his last 11 months in addition to having a knockout percentage of 95%, which capture the minds of boxing fans across the globe. With a record of 41 wins and no losses, one draw, 40 wins coming by way of knockout.

He will be making the 10th defense of his championship since earning the belt in 2015. On November 23 he seeks to join Joe Louis. Muhammad Ali, Larry Holmes, Tommy Burns, the Klitschko Brothers as those with 10 or more consecutive successful title defenses.

Also, that evening fight fans will see Three-division champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will take on Miguel “El Michoacan” Flores for the WBA Super Featherweight Championship and his 4th division title in the co-main event. Tickets for the event are being promoted by BombZquad Promotions, TGB Promotions, and Mayweather Promotions. They are on sale now and you can get them at www.mgmgrand.com or www.axs. com.

Pay-per-view action begins at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT and also features undefeated rising star Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa making the first defense of his WBA Super Bantamweight Title against former champion Julio Ceja while undefeated Mexican power-puncher Luis Nery battles Puerto Rico’s Emmanuel Rodríguez in a matchup of former bantamweight champions.

More information about this fight can be found on www.premierboxingchampions.com http://www.foxsports. com/presspass/homepage and www.foxdeportes.com or on Twitter @PremierBoxing, @PBConFOX, @FOXSports, @ FOXDeportes, @TGBPromotions, @MayweatherPromo and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions, www.facebook.com/foxsports & www.facebook.com/ foxdeportes.

I can’t wait to see this fight card, I think Leo Santa Cruz will gain his 4th Division Championship in convincing fashion. I also have Deontay Wilder defending his title for the 11th time. Let us know your thoughts on Santa Cruz vs Flores and Wilder vs Ortiz by commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or by following me on Twitter at “Voice of the Fans” for immediate engagement. Additionally, subscribe to our weekly “Voice of the Fans Podcast” which is available for you on Apple and Google Podcasts including Spotify, TuneIn, and iHeart Radio. As always, we certainly appreciate you for making our voice your choice!

Burbank Marriott Host Lights Outs Extreme Fighting IV

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com In the fourth edition of the Lightsout Extreme Fighting Mixed Martial Arts competition. A select group of the top combat fighters in, and around, southern California got another chance to show off their skills and compete for a championship belt in some cases. These LFX matches have been supported by former NFL linebacker Shawne Merriman, who consistently trains with these fighters and put together the LFX to recognize their talent and efforts inside the ring.

LFX IV was held in Burbank this past Friday next at the Burbank Marriott Convention Center. This night of fight would be capped off with the Heavyweight Championship between current Champion Jay Silva and contender Mike Quintero. Before the Heavyweight Championship, fans in attendance enjoyed 6 other bouts including the Bantamweight Championship and the Lightweight Championship.

Kicking off the night was a Heavyweight fight between, former NFL player with the Los Angeles Chargers and Miami Dolphins, takes on the newcomer to the sports Anthony Taufi. After the two men exchanged

solid connections in the first round, the two got tangled up on the ground in round two. Chris McCain specifically told me that he “worked on his grappling,” in training camp just in case the fight went to the ground. The training served him well as he submitted Taufi early in the second round to win by a TKO and go 3-0 in the LXF The second bout of the night saw Lightweights Zack Kraschinsky take on Christian Bizaretty. Kraschingsky had a rooting advantage in the crowd and did not disappoint.

Zack won this fight by TKO in the first round of this fight to the delight of his fans.

Bantamweights Ludwig Shouliyan vs Yuma Horiuchi went the distance in the third fight of the night. Also enjoying a crowd advantage, Shouliyan was seeming inspired by his multiple fans in attendance. Though this was a tough fight to score, Shouliyan won this fight by split decision.

Lightweights Brian Del Rosario vs Dean Hancock was a surprisingly short fight. After the two connected a couple feeling out punches, Del Rosario unloaded on Hancock when he connected with a strong left hook that sent Hancock to the canvas. Del Rosario then smothered Hancock before the referee stopped the fight and earned

him a win by TKO in R1.

In short order, this fight took a unique turn of events.

Lightweights Hunter Carlyle vs John Paul Bosnoyan put on a show for the fight fans in attendance. Bosnoyan jumped out to a decided advantage against the Carlye. At one point it appeared that fight would be stopped, as Bosnoyan was handing it to Carlye. Thought after one punch, Carlye took control of this and ended the after his TKO of Bosnoyan.

In the LXF IV, Lightweight Title bout Arut Pogosjan took on Joshua Jones. With the many support of his fans, Pogosjan finished this fight with an early submission of Jones to win the LFX Lightweight Title belt.

The next fight was the LXF IV Bantamweight Title fight between Albert Morales and Ryan Lilley. This fight went back and forth throughout the fight. Lilley took charge in the early first round, then Morales responded by taking charge in the second round.

Riding the momentum from round two… Morales closed out the fight with some punishing blows the ended the fight in submission to earn the LXF Bantamweight Championship.

Lastly, the night was capped off with the LXF Heavyweight Championship bout between current

champion Jay Silva and challenger Mike Quintero. This, 3 round, bout could’ve gone to either fighter. As the old saying goes, you have to beat the champion to take his belt. I thought Silva won the first and third rounds, though Quintero was a tough opponent, I don’t think Quintero beat up Silva to win the Championship Belt.

This was another great night of fights put on by the Lightsout Extreme Fighting competition, this event will continue to grow as their next event is scheduled for January 2020, see the www.LightsoutFX.com for more details. Additionally, If you were at the fight, feel free to share your thoughts on how you had either fight scored, by commenting in the comment section of this article on www.whatsgoodinsports.com or by following me on Twitter at @whatsgoonsport for immediate engagement.

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

Thursday, November 21, 2019

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Entertainment

AUTONETWORK: 2019 Lexus NX 300h

By Frank S. Washington AboutThatCar.com DETROIT – The Lexus NX 300h is yet another hybrid from the luxury automaker.

This one combines the output of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine and what Lexus called a small high torque electric motor. Power can shift between the gas engine and the electric motor or they can operate in tandem.

Combined they supply 194 horsepower to the NX 300h.

Transferring that power to the pavement is an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission or ECVT. We don’t know if there is any advantage to this type of transmission versus a regular CVT. But it seemed to convey a little more oomph to the pavement under normal conditions.

This combination had an EPA rating of 33 mpg in the city, 30 mpg on the highway and 31 mpg combined. We thought that was a little on the low side. But 30 mpg is the magic number for fuel efficiency and the Lexus NX Hybrid topped it across the board.

As most who are familiar with hybrid systems know, regenerative braking changed the electric motor into a generator that captured the kinetic energy of the wheels when the brakes were applied. Then it was stored in the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) hybrid battery pack.

In EV drive mode, under certain conditions, the NX 300h can run solely on the electric motor for up to 1 mile at lower speeds (below approximately 25 mph). We tried this by driving around the block, well several blocks. The crossover hybrid stayed in electric mode but when we got to 25 mph, the gasoline engine kicked in just like Lexus said.

Lexus also said a Hybrid System Indicator and fuel consumption indicator, located in a 4.2-inch TFT screen, help coach the driver to operate the vehicle as economically as possible. Never saw it, never looked for it, ergo we never paid any attention.

But we did notice that all the instruments were digi-

tal. The speedometer and the power gauge; all the numbers were digital, but they were inside a three-dimensional ring.

Thus, they looked analogue. It was a nice illusion.

The all-wheel-drive system (with intelligence) was standard. Instead of transfer gears and a driveshaft to the rear wheels, the system employed a second, independent electric motor to drive the rear wheels when needed to help maintain optimal traction. Since thank goodness winter was not upon us at the time of the test drive, this feature was not needed. And our test vehicle did sport the optional 18-inch wheels.

We climbed into the 2019 Lexus NX 300h and found the interior busy but nicely done. The floating infotainment screen was set back atop the dash; almost like it was on a downward slope. There was a cascaded look. The vents were next, followed by the climate control gauges and temperature setting.

The center-stack dropped down abruptly and there were the audio controls, the gear shifter beneath and the drive mode selector which was a dial. We were intrigued by the CD player; most of them have gone to the automotive obsolete museum. We checked it out and found it provided excellent sounds.

Farther back on the console was the Lexus haptic pad.

Lexus called it the remote touch interface (RTI), which uses a touchpad with palm rest in the center of the console.

The RTI helps the driver access various functions while staying focused on the road. The front-seat passenger can also easily operate the RTI. It is a control mouse and can be unnerving for first time users. Inside the center console were 2 USB jacks, a 12V socket and an auxiliary jack grouped closely together.

The slightest slivers of dark wood trim were on the dash and the doors. And the NX Hybrid had a power tilt and telescoping steering wheel. It was heated as well. The rear seats also were power tilting and there was a power liftgate.

The rear seats were firm but bordered on being hard.

The base price of the 2019 Lexus NX 300h was $38,735 Add a lengthy list of options, a $1,025 freight charge and our test vehicle had a sticker of $49,354. (Photo: Frank S. Washington)

There was plenty of headroom as well as legroom. They could also flip down in addition to tilting.

There was a 360-degree surround view camera with overhead view. The NX Hybrid had Lexus’ safety package that included lane departure warning and correction and collision warning. It had a navigation system, Enform app suite, rearview camera with cross traffic alert, a moonroof and premium LED daytime running lights.

A smart key with push button start and lock and unlock, power folding outside mirrors, Apple CarPlay and Amazon Alexa capability were part of the creature comforts. And of course, there were heated and cooled front seats.

The base price of the 2019 Lexus NX 300h was $38,735 Add a lengthy list of options, a $1,025 freight charge and our test vehicle had a sticker of $49,354.

AfroComicCon Offers Diversity in Pop Culture

“(Convention-goers can) come away with a sense of ownership and collaboration.” —AfroComicCon founder Michael James. (Photo: Afro ComicCon) Continued from page A1 A series of discussions he had with like-minded peo- lo Handy; Sifu Kisu martial arts choreographer for Avatar:

Monetarily, they are a financial windfall, generating millions in revenue and contributing significantly to the surrounding community’s economy. A major component of these events is the practice of cosplay, in which fans dress up as their favorite superheroes and animated characters.

Growing Pains The story behind AfroComicCon can be traced back to the roots of its founder. James came up under the sway of Oakland’s Allen Temple Baptist Church and its progressive pastor, the Rev. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. Among the luminaries passing through its portals were former Congressman and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, and civil rights activists the Rev. Jesse Jackson and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

The seeds of social liberalism firmly planted, young James graduated from UC Davis, with a bachelor’s in Environmental Planning to begin his tenure in corporate America, a period he found stifling and restrictive.

The millennium era found him politicized through work with various non-profit concerns and travels overseas where he participated in the 2007 release of South African dissident Nelson Mandela. These events were intertwined by his work to promote computer literacy among the Bay Area’s disadvantaged during a period where he became disenchanted with the educational system’s methodology in distributing state and federal funding to the community.

During this time, he had been involved in a successful literacy program under the umbrella of UC Berkeley.

The experience soured him, however, as he saw how the non-profit apparatus worked. He did quite well with the $850,000 allotted to his program until he found out it was just part of the $7 million the university was receiving over a seven-year period.

ple, and a chance visit to the San Diego Comi-con (the benchmark for all such gatherings), spawned the nucleus of what would become the AfroComicCon, a platform in which to promote reading through graphic novels, comic books, and other paraphernalia.

Supporting him and co-founding AfroComicCon with him since the beginning has been a kindred spirit and fellow Berkeley High School alum, Hally Bellah-Guther.

A career professional dancer in the United States and in Europe, Bellah-Guther, who has taught ballet and fitness locally for 20 years, was a passionate volunteer and board member of D.U.S.T.Y. (Oakland Technology & Education Center) and had been Michael’s partner working on literacy and arts programs since 2012. She caught the bug and became completely devoted to the project. She has been overseeing every aspect of AfroComicCon since prepping for the first year because it combined two passions of hers: the arts and the fight against injustice and inequity.

By 2017, they’d secured enough funding to compile a shoestring budget, and they were ready to mount the first tentative steps towards realizing the vision.

The Chance for Inclusion They had no intention of replicating the success of the decades-old Comic-con (convention-goers this past summer for that event reached in excess of 130,000), but in their inaugural staging, they attracted some 400 to 500 attendees, a more than respectable gathering, considering their resources and financial limitations.

Among the notables on hand to greet visitors were special effects wizard Christa Burton (“Iron Man,” “The Lone Ranger,” and “Transformers”); movie producer and Vice President of Programming at BOUNCE TV Ri-Kar-

The Last Air Bender; Power Rangers, and other major motion pictures; and television writer Ty Scott (“CSI: Miami” and “Saints and Sinners”).

“Everyone has a story and we can all be superheroes in our own right,” says James, as an explanation for the interest in this new and novel venue for popular culture.

Attendance for the next calendar year 2018 increased to 1000 plus. Among those appearing for the 2019 AfroComicCon were writer/producer Rodney Barnes (“American Gods,” “The Boondocks,” “Everybody Hates Chris, “ and the upcoming “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”); spoken word poet, street lit author and UC Berkeley professor Aya de Leon; and actress Onika Day (“Orange is the New Black,” “Wu-Tang: An American Saga”).

In keeping with AfroComicCon’s pledge of inclusion, guests consisted of Lebanese director of photography JeanClaude Kalache of Pixar, and Vietnamese American filmmaker and theater director Khai Thu Nguyen (who helped judge the film competition).

As in past years, the convention sought to provide a wide variety of educational and interactive experiences meant to engage the whole family. These included a fashion show mounted by Jasline Berry (fashionista and Afro-renaissance woman) and James Head (costume designer for rapper M.C. Hammer), promotion by and about the gaming industry, and other venues to prompt event-goers to, in James’ words, “move away from commercialism that doesn’t support us.”

FLASH- Fit Like A Super Hero- which was spearheaded by Bellah-Guther since 2018, includes multi-disciplines to encourage the public to engage in healthier lifestyles through physical activity and healthy diets. A notable com-

conveniently located wherever you need to be. It is a nice leisurely walk to the Superdome, Smoothie King Arena, French Quarters, Convention Center etc. The hotel is well maintained, and quiet. The thing that stood out for me at this hotel was the hot breakfast. You already know the importance of a good hot breakfast to start your day. Front Desk Receptionist Jody Williams was very courteous, helpful for a quick, smooth check in.

The city was in the spotlight for a variety of Fall events taking place throughout the weekend. The New Orleans Pelicans were at home against the Toronto Raptors, bars and restaurants were overflowing with fans watching LSU vs. Alabama, the Saints were home hosting the Falcons.

Sandwiched (pun intended) between all of this was the 9th Annual Boudin, Bourbon and Beer, held at Champions Square. Gourmands from across the nation arrived at the event with empty stomachs and a huge thirst for fun.

TGIF might mean one thing to most people, in New Orleans, the letters take on a whole different meaning. The “F” in TGIF could stand for Food, Fun, Festival, Family and/or Friends. I apologize for dropping so many of the “F” words on you. One could have found a smorgasbord of all the above while in attendance at the 9th Annual Boudin, Bourbon and Beer.

Lite sprinkles could not damper people’s enthusiasm for attending this awesome event for a good cause. Proceeds from Boudin, Bourbon & Beer allow Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support children’s culinary and nutrition education programs throughout the year including its signature program, Emeril Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, a national education initiative created to enrich the lives of elementary and middle school children through a fun, fresh perspective of food.

People the world over consider New Orleans as an arts and culture playground, and that food and music is at its core. For the 9th year, Boudin, Bourbon and Beer invited foodies to explore, savor, sip and stroll amongst 70 participating chefs from all over the United States. This was a crowd that were 21 years and older, rain or shine.

Attendees were able to enjoy the many varieties of menu items featuring boudin, all in one spot. A variety of wines, beer and bourbon stations were spread out in Champions Square. The Abita Beer booth served up an assortment of Ales-Amber, Light, The Boot, and Purple Haze to name a few. Cool, refreshing, rich and tasty drinks mixed with Bourbon was also a huge hit.

Boudin, Bourbon and Beer offered first timers like me the opportunity to discover new chefs, restaurants for memorable experiences with like minded people who gathered on this chilly evening to fellowship over food, and music in support of a worthy cause.

The enclosed photos give you a sample of the great time had by all in attendance at the 9th Annual Boudin, Bourbon and Beer. Forewarning, the enclosed photos might do two things to you. It might make you hungry, most importantly, it might cause you to book a trip to New Orleans, November 2020 to attend the 10th Anniversary Boudin, Bourbon and Beer. I can’t wait for my second serving/refill of Boudin, Bourbon and Beer.

Donald Link booth featured Cajun Boudin with Cochon Mustard, Jim Richard-Stinky’s Smoked boudin & Mirliton stuffing, Nina Compton-Jerk Pork Bahn Mi, Tanya Dubuclet- Gumbo and bread pudding, Daniel Esses- Reuben Kreplach with bourbon beef consommé.

Joaquin Rodas & Ryan Cantwell-Bachanal traditional Cajun boudin, Kerry Seaton Stewart- fried chicken, butterbeans with sausage & cornbread, Nathanial ZimetBoudin grilled cheese with grilled onion mustard, just to name a few as your stomach starts to growl.

That’s not all Folks! There was a Cigar Lounge, Desserts and stellar line-up of entertainment. Motel Radio and Fruition were superb doing their time in the spotlight on the Main Stage.

Grace Potter turned up the throttle of the Wow factor. Grace Potter thrilled the crowd with her soulful vocal stylings while showcasing her awe-inspiring talents whether shredding on the Electric guitar, performing on the Hammond B-3 Organ or acoustic guitar.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue took it up a notch. Their high-octane, tight, in the pocket, funky grooves, calls to mind James Brown and The JB’s. Chef Emeril Lagasse got in on the fun, adding a nice rhythmic touch on the timbales to the delight of the crowd.

Boudin, Bourbon & Beer was the first event of Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s two-night signature fundraising weekend and is held annually the night prior to nationally recognized charity wine auction and gala dinner https:// Carnivalduvin.com Last year’s fundraising weekend raised $3million for children’s charities along the Gulf Coast Emeril Lagasse Foundation was founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501c (3) public charity headquartered in New Orleans. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and educate youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education with a focus on life skills development. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $11 million to children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit https://www.emerils. org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

ponent in this is a demonstration of Brazilian martial arts, Malandro Mandingo: The Body Magic of Capoeira. There has also been Hip Hop and Turf Dance, Worldbeat/Salsa and Kung fu demos and classes and performances.

An attendee who has transitioned from volunteer to active participation, comic book creator and graphic artist “Sketch” Smith now serves as AfroComicCon’s art director, web designer, and all-around gadfly.

“I try to help out in any capacity that I can,” she says.

An attendee of similar events prior to joining AfroComicCon, she notes that they were generally slanted towards a heterosexual White male demographic, to the exclusion of minorities and women.

A Bay Area transplant who is opening up her own brick and mortar book store (“Hella Novella” at 2301 Mission Street in San Francisco), Smith sees this undertaking as a sanctuary for “geeks” like herself who have never fit in at any of the other conventions she’s attended as the “odd person out.” It is a relief from the overwhelming xenophobia she’s experienced as a Black woman, and she cherishes the shared cultural experience that AfroComicCon offers (for more on Sketch, visit http://www.sketchsmith.com/).

Inclusion for Everyone “(Convention-goers can) come away with a sense of ownership and collaboration.” —AfroComicCon founder Michael James.

While AfroComicCon takes place within the confines of the Bay Area and is primarily meant, in the words on its Facebook page, “…to empower artists who have been denied access to equal opportunity,” everyone cordially received an invite.

Rockin’, Groovin’, Grubbing for a Good Cause

Trombone Shorty (Ricky Richardson Photo)

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer NEW ORLEANS – The world had their collective eyes on New Orleans, and the state of Louisiana during my recent visit, November 6-10, 2019.

I was among thousands of passengers arriving into the city on the first day of arrivals at the new Louis Armstrong International Airport. Everyone is raving about the many dining options inside the airport and all the new amenities.

I was fortunate to stay at the Holiday Inn Express on O’Keefe. Location, Location, Location. This property is

Kerry Seaton Stewart (Ricky Richardson Photo)

A6

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Local

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Grand Celebration of Gospel Music in the Park

By Ricky Richardson Contributing Writer Los Angeles-What Shall We Do Ministries presented the 2nd Annual Spirit of Thanksgiving Gospel Experience, Saturday, November 16th, in Grand Park, downtown Los Angeles. What Shall We Do Ministries led by Minister Lionel Peters and Joy Peters, is a non-profit, “Faith Based Organization” serving the community through outreach Events and Concerts.

The Spirit of the Lord had engulfed the small intimate Grand Park Performance Lawn, (Olive Court-between Grand and Hill Street) when I arrived on site. This was a picture-perfect beautiful day in Southern California for this day long celebration with songs and worship.

Dr. Antwon Martin, Assistant Pastor at Greater Bethel Cathedral Church served as Master of Ceremony. The show opened with the talented Lakeisha Solomon. I arrived in time as De Ante Duckett & The Justified Crew was rockin’ the stage with songs of Praise and worship.

Several special invited guests were present to Give Thanks and Praise and invited members of the crowd to Alter Call, to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Sister Jeanette Bentley followed by Dani B. JAIA gave powerful testimonials that resonated with the crowd. David D. Price, Office of Mayor Eric Garcetti, Southwest Los Angeles Area Representative, and Minister of Youth at First A.M.E. Church brought greetings from the Office of the Mayor.

Chell and Alicia Benn, Platinum Stitches, Inc, were in the house to show their support of the event. Their amazing handiwork is the huge banner that you see in most of the enclosed photos.

April May (Ricky Richardson Photo)

VaShawn Mitchell (Ricky Richardson Photo)

Apostle Henry and Dr. Marty Alexander, Senior Pastors, and Founder of Shield of Faith Christian Center in Pomona. Apostle Henry B. Alexander is Presiding Prelate and Founder of Shied of Faith Fellowship of Churches International, Inc. delivered an encouraging and inspiring message before the captivated crowd.

The program continued with a thrilling performance

by Vocalist April May, followed by multi-instrumentalist Jason Brown, vocals, saxophone and guitar.

Minister Lionel Peters, Founder and President, What Shall We Do Ministries delivered a powerful, uplifting and inspiring sermon. The live entertainment continued with a set of roof raising gospel tunes superbly performed by Jyon Gray and a Grand Finale performance by VaShawn Mitchell.

The crowd were able to listen to Gospel tunes to address their Spiritual needs. Several food vendors were on site to address the crowd’s nutritional needs as well. Mike’s Fatboy served up delicious burger and chicken sliders, WingsWaffles and Beignets Box were also on site. We’re Blessed Catering served up some mouthwatering New Orleans style cooking and more to the delight of all of visited their booth. They served BBQ Dinners with all of the fixins (sides), Gumbo, and Po’ Boy sandwiches. Klassic Desserts served cakes, cookies etc. We’re Blessed Catering is owned and operated by Lois Threats and her business partner Kimberlee Smith. The Holidays are coming up, that could only mean, OFFICE PARTIES! The above-mentioned food vendors are available to cater your upcoming events.

There were several merchant vendors on site with some amazing items for sale, Paparazzi Jewelry, Gotcha Hooked, Sunglasses and Accessories, The Fashionista and authors Tina Maddox and KamaSpeaks, again think in terms of the upcoming Holidays, or other special occasions.

The mission of What Shall We Do Ministries is create local and national outdoor events to reach people at their place of need and direct them to places of fellowship in their communities. For more information visit www. spiritofthanksgiving.com The new Grand Park provides Angelenos of all walks of life a place where they can come together to celebrate, reflect, and shape the future in one central gathering place.

The small intimate Grand Performance Lawn is a relaxing and serene place to come together in a welcoming and distinctly urban oasis. and Founder of Shied of Faith Fellowship of Churches International, Inc. delivered an encouraging and inspiring message before the captivated crowd.

The program continued with a thrilling performance

by Vocalist April May, followed by multi-instrumentalist Jason Brown, vocals, saxophone and guitar.

Minister Lionel Peters, Founder and President, What Shall We Do Ministries delivered a powerful, uplifting and inspiring sermon. The live entertainment continued with a set of roof raising gospel tunes superbly performed by Jyon Gray and a Grand Finale performance by VaShawn Mitchell.

The crowd were able to listen to Gospel tunes to address their Spiritual needs. Several food vendors were on site to address the crowd’s nutritional needs as well. Mike’s Fatboy served up delicious burger and chicken sliders, WingsWaffles and Beignets Box were also on site. We’re Blessed Catering served up some mouthwatering New Orleans style cooking and more to the delight of all of visited their booth. They served BBQ Dinners with all of the fixins (sides), Gumbo, and Po’ Boy sandwiches. Klassic Desserts served cakes, cookies etc. We’re Blessed Catering is owned and operated by Lois Threats and her business partner Kimberlee Smith. The Holidays are coming up, that could only mean, OFFICE PARTIES! The above-mentioned food vendors are available to cater your upcoming events.

There were several merchant vendors on site with some amazing items for sale, Paparazzi Jewelry, Gotcha Hooked, Sunglasses and Accessories, The Fashionista and authors Tina Maddox and KamaSpeaks, again think in terms of the upcoming Holidays, or other special occasions.

The mission of What Shall We Do Ministries is create local and national outdoor events to reach people at their place of need and direct them to places of fellowship in their communities. For more information visit www. spiritofthanksgiving.com The new Grand Park provides Angelenos of all walks

of life a place where they can come together to celebrate, reflect, and shape the future in one central gathering place.

The small intimate Grand Performance Lawn is a relaxing and serene place to come together in a welcoming and distinctly urban oasis.

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