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Wel c Dee per ome Con to te

LA-Bron James Agrees to 4-year Contract w/Lakers

Obs erve r Int erac tive

nt. P Former KKK ictu res Leader has Senior Mov Law e. A Role w/Connecticut suit d s D Alle O Talk iscr R TH VFW Post IS imin ges . Liv P 3. S r egn atio e SMACAN L S a O hop n by RTP GO O n t HON WIT f fi P ping H YO E. riso cer UR T n .

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CLEVELAND (AP) — LeBron James is leaving home for Hollywood and an iconic team.

The Los Angeles Lakers have a new superstar — L.A.-Bron.

The four-time NBA MVP announced Sunday night that he has agreed to a four-year, $154 million contract with the Lakers, joining one of the league’s most storied franchises and switching conferences to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy.

For the second time in his career, James is saying goodbye to the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted the teenage sensation from Akron in 2003 and have to be satisfied with winning just one title in the 11 years they had him.

Unlike his two previous forays in free agency, James did not drag out his decision and made the announcement less than 24 hours after NBA free agency opened.

This Summer of LeBron was barely a fling.

His management agency, Klutch Sports Group, announced his agreement with the Lakers with a simple, short release. It was a stark contrast from eight years ago, when a poorly conceived TV special to announce his departure from Cleveland backfired and damaged James’ image.

James isn’t planning any more comments and there won’t be a welcoming press conference or celebration in Los Angeles, a person familiar with his plans said Sunday night on the condition of anonymity. James will make his next public comments on July 30 in Akron when he opens a public school started by his family foundation.

It was all different this time.

The game’s biggest star will now lead a young Lakers team — run by Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson — that has been overmatched in recent years while rebuilding. But the Lakers will instantly rise with James, a three-time champion who after being swept by the Warriors in this year’s NBA Finals said he is still driven and very much in “championship mode.”

James wasn’t planning to have any face-to-face meetings, but Saturday night he met with Johnson, who sold him on his vision for the Lakers, the person told AP. Earlier in the week, Johnson seemed resigned to the possibility he might not get James or Paul George, who ended up re-signing with the Oklahoma City Thunder.

But Johnson was confident he could pull something off.

“I’m Magic Johnson,” he said.

The Lakers’ rich legacy is something that has always appealed to James and it wasn’t long after his announcement that he heard

WALLINGFORD, Conn. (AP) _ A Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Connecticut is standing by an officer who was convicted of crimes involving bigotry as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.

The Record-Journal reports that Scott E. Palmer, senior vice commander S Post 591 in Wallingford, was among several cer i LOof s sui asAaNpart Klansmen investigation in the mid-1990s babarrested n g the GELofEan yw S (A in the area. into a rising number statecrimes h TO was ile re of hate P) _ preg spMichael R TPost commander said he is concerned AC isonMonaco ondi prDel Bak nanhas uesdPalmer anot syste and liforhis past role ersfi n t with what done for veterans g .

Fres eld a t S nia c y m o adidn’t Nat no inPalmer rah Crespond a figto afterfor B with the KKK. requests comment. orre Bas State M ive Na C a h k t ketb o o s en’s med e h b o o r a tion e s g g skPalmer all C H fieldin 1993 twee e sbased le convicted le fiofl intimidation ays s con ed fo was oac ead s offi a . h n e y h d s tiona for rpunching i e n a a s bigotry a customer outside a gay bar.

He also m h less s discr e to ates lost he Insti to t l i wasn l guilty FREE! w d r m pleaded intimidation based on bigotry for yelling slurs inati hen s o tutio enuou ’t on la he s po fficials s n in aatnHispanic o possmen. i

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In this Sunday, March 11, 2018, file photo, Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers guard Lonzo Ball defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game, in Los Angeles. On Sunday, July 1, 2018, James announced he would be joining Ball and the Lakers to try and dethrone the Golden State Warriors and grow his own legacy. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Coniued on page A4

2018 NNPA Lifetime Legacy Award Winner

Rev. Jesse Jackson Pushes for Federal AntiLynching Law

By Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire Political Analyst If history has proven one thing, it’s that when Reverend Jesse L. Jackson speaks, the nation tends to always listen. Rev. Jackson continues to use his voice to speak on an atrocity that has plagued Black people for decades—the horrific act of lynching.

While in town to receive the 2018 Lifetime Legacy Award from the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) at their NNPA Awards National Legacy Awards Black Tie Gala and Annual Convention in Norfolk, Virginia, Rev. Jackson spoke to NNPA publishers about the need to adopt legislation to address the despicable act of lynching.

“Lynching should be a federal crime,” Rev. Jackson told the group of publishers at the NNPA Annual Convention. “Blacks are still being lynched today. Not just with a rope. Unarmed Blacks are being killed on a regular basis and it must be addressed.

More people were killed after slavery than before slavery. Prior to the ending of slavery we were considered assets, but after slavery we were considered a threat, because we could vote. We need this legislation now.”

Rev. Jackson believes that addressing the issue of lynching in this country is long overdue, and he has been aggressively pushing for members of Congress to step up to the plate and officially make lynching a federal crime. Rev. Jackson told NNPA publishers that he has spoken with the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and many other top congressional lawmakers about this issue.

As a result of Rev. Jackson’s targeted efforts, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.) recently introduced a bill to amend section 249 of title 18 in the United States Code, specifying lynching as a hate crime act. After Rep. Rush introduced his bill, the three African American lawmakers in the U.S. Senate followed suit by drafting bipartisan legislation to classify lynching as a hate crime that would carry a more serious sentence for the act.

The three African American senators—Cory Booker

Obama Foundation Takes Steps to Ensure Diverse Workforce

CHICAGO (AP) _ Officials overseeing construction of the Obama Presidential Center on Chicago’s South Side say they’re taking steps to ensure a diverse workforce builds the center.

The Chicago Tribune reports that a firm owned by the brother of former Mayor Eugene Sawyer will monitor the construction company building the center to make sure it meets diversity goals.

At the same time, the Obama Foundation has hired a staffer to serve as a point person to ensure that at least half of the subcontracts go to firms owned by minorities or women and agencies owned by veterans, residents with disabilities or workers that identify as LGBTQ. The project is expected to create about 5,000 jobs during construction.

Black Lawmaker Files Complaint Over Security Treatment COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - A black Ohio lawmaker who says security at the Statehouse has inappropriately stopped her has filed a complaint with the state Civil Rights Commission.

The Columbus Dispatch reports Rep. Emilia Sykes, a 32-year-old Akron Democrat in her second term, says she filed the complaint this week after an unsatisfactory meeting with Public Safety Director John Born and other State Highway Patrol officials.

Sykes says despite assurances she shouldn’t have any problems, she and other black women have been singled out at security checkpoints the last two years while white legislators with proper badges pass through unquestioned.

She says that when she asked why her badge wasn’t recognized, she was told she looked too young to be a legislator.

A Highway Patrol spokeswoman said Sykes’ allegations are being investigated.

Nation’s SecondLargest City Gets New Police Chief

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The nation’s second-largest city has a new police chief.

Michel Moore, a 36-year veteran of the Los Angeles Police Department, was sworn in Wednesday by Mayor Eric Garcetti aft four officers to the more recent erosion of trust in law enforcement.

Moore assumed command of a key division in the department following an infamous corruption crisis in the late 1990s known as the Rampart scandal.

Moore, 57, said before the council vote that he wants to build community relations and trust, and increase diversity within the department to better represent the city, particularly among women and black people.

Slavery Scholar Willie Lee Rose Dead at 91

Rev. Jesse Jackson is calling for a federal anti-Lynching law. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), and Tim Scott (R-S.C.) recently drafted the “Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018.” In this photo, Rev. Jesse Jackson speaks during the 2018 NNPA Lifetime Legacy Award Black Tie Gala in Norfolk, Va. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

(D-N.J.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Tim Scott (R-S.C.)— drafted the HYPERLINK “https://www.booker.senate. gov/?p=press_release&id=821” “Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018,” which defines the act of lynching as “the willful act of murder by a collection of people assembled with the intention of committing an act of violence upon any person.

“It’s a travesty that despite repeated attempts to do so, Congress still hasn’t put anti-lynching legislation on the books,” Sen. Booker said in a statement regarding the legislation. “This bill will right historical wrongs by acknowledging our country’s stained past and codifying into law our commitment to abolishing Continued on page A2

NEW YORK (AP) - A groundbreaking scholar on slavery and Reconstruction has died. Willie Lee Rose was 91.

Rose died in her sleep June 20 at a Baltimore retirement community, Johns Hopkins University told The Associated Press on Thursday. Rose was known for the 1964 publication, “Rehearsal for Reconstruction,’’ a prize-winning study of a black community off the Atlantic coast and its struggles to build a post-slavery society.

The book won the Francis Parkman Prize for history among other honors and was cited as among the works that helped lead to a more balanced and positive view of Reconstruction and freed slaves.

In 1970, a committee led by Rose released an influential study condemning gender inequality in the historical profession.

She taught at Johns Hopkins from 1973-1992.

World & Nation

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, July 5, 2018

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

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Teen’s Police Killing Tests Long-Frustrated Black Pittsburgh

By ERRIN HAINES WHACK AP National Writer PITTSBURGH (AP) _ The day after Antwon Rose Jr. was shot through the cheek and elbow and in the back, killing the 17-year-old honors student, young black people swarmed the East Pittsburgh police station.

Over the next several days, outraged protesters took over thoroughfares, disrupted rush hour and shouted from the steps of the county courthouse, demanding that the white officer who killed the black teenager be charged.

Rose's killing is the first in the Pittsburgh area in the Black Lives Matter era, and residents are galvanized. From the sustained marches to the swift announcement that Officer Michael Rosfeld will face charges of criminal homicide, what has unfolded in the hills of western Pennsylvania's steel country is a rare response to the killing of an unarmed black male, despite longstanding tensions in the area between police and the scattered black community.

Residents are guardedly optimistic the case could result in an even rarer conviction.

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“It's a different political climate, a different energy with the people who are coming out,'' said Brandi Fisher, an activist who started the Alliance for Police Accountability in 2010. “This was a cold-blooded murder, and it's the first for this generation in our city to have witnessed.”

For nearly two weeks, and despite a heavy media focus on immigration at the Mexican border, protesters have turned national attention to Pittsburgh without big names like the Rev. Al Sharpton or lawyer Ben Crump, and demonstrators have been largely local and diverse.

Unlike Ferguson, Missouri; Baltimore; Cleveland and other places where similar cases have caused outcry, Allegheny County is 81 percent white and 13 percent black. The black unemployment and poverty rates are triple that of whites. And the mountainand-valley terrain that separates communities that are actually quite close as the crow flies can also prevent coalescence.

It all creates a climate that has failed and exhausted the area's black community, organizer Tresa Murphy said.

“We live in a city that has systematically oppressed us since our grandparents got here,'' said Murphy, 24.

In talking about Rose's killing in East Pittsburgh, several miles outside Pittsburgh, residents frequently reference the region's systemic inequities, particularly in segregation and policing.

The small borough of about 1,800 residents is 60 percent black, but its eight-member police force is predominantly white.

Pittsburgh's police department was the first subjected to a federal consent decree in 1997 after a Department of Justice investigation found a pattern of excessive force and other shortcomings.

Residents recalled that the era angered many in the black community but action was less common. They point to more muted protests after the 1995 death of Jonny Gammage, a 31-year-old unarmed black man who was stopped in suburban Brentwood for erratic driving. He died of suffocation after officers pinned him to the pavement.

The case drew headlines because Gammage was the cousin of Pittsburgh Steelers player Ray Seals. Two of the five officers involved were tried twice for involuntary manslaughter, but both cases ended in mistrials.

The 2012 Pittsburgh shooting of Leon Ford _ who was shot in the chest five times after being pulled over for running a stop sign and survived, though he was left a paraplegic _ produced outrage but not on the scale of the Rose demonstrations.

Ford, who also was unarmed, was awarded $5.5 million in a federal lawsuit, but a jury in a criminal trial cleared one officer of assault and battery allegations and was deadlocked on whether the other used excessive force.

The Rev. Shanea Leonard, of Judah Fellowship Christian Church in Pittsburgh, who protested in a downtown march on Wednesday, sees more unity around the Rose case.

“It was enough years ago, but the community has been galvanized,'' Leonard said. “We're not seeing justice. It's more of us that are tired than ever before.''

Protests have continued since the announcement of charges for Rosfeld, as the community raises concerns about the legal process. While happy about the charges, many are outraged that he was released on bond less than an hour after turning himself in.

“That says they plan to show this officer favor,'' Fisher said.

“He’s at home with his family, and he didn't have to pay a dime to get out of prison.”

Rose was killed June 19 after fleeing during a traffic stop.

He was a passenger in a car suspected in a drive-by shooting that occurred earlier that evening in neighboring North Braddock.

Police arrested another 17-year-old, who also ran from police, on Wednesday. Prosecutors say that teenager is the suspected shooter in the drive-by and that Rose was not involved.

Rosfeld gave inconsistent statements about whether he saw Rose with a weapon, officials say. Rosfeld's attorney has said that he believes the shooting was justified and that the officer should face an involuntary manslaughter charge at most.

Christian Carter, 18, said he has never felt distanced from gun violence or the killings of black men by police. He has been a fixture in the recent Pittsburgh-area protests and said people are fueling the unrest, which he does not expect to subside soon.

“We're growing up in America, where it's a daily thing to see these deaths,'' Carter said. “I think a lot of the older people are scared to see what's going to happen to us, being on the front lines, but I'm doing it because this is something that's important to me, that I want to stop. We're not backing down.”

Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA; Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the NNPA; Kenneth Alexander, the mayor of Norfolk; and Brenda Andrews, the publisher of The News Journal and Guide pause for a photo with the mayor’s “Black Press of America Week” in the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk, Va. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

Norfolk’s First Black Mayor Kenneth Alexander Declares

‘Black Press of America Week’

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander issued a proclamation declaring “Black Press of America Week” in the waterfront city in Southeastern Virginia, kicking off the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s (NNPA) annual convention at a welcome reception at the Chrysler Museum.

Reading from the proclamation, the mayor said: “I, Kenneth Alexander, mayor of the city of Norfolk, do hereby proclaim June 26-June 30, 2018 as ‘Black Press of America Week’ in the city of Norfolk, encouraging all citizens to recognize the National Newspaper Publishers Association for its monumental achievement and historic role in reshaping and diversifying the print media industry.”

Alexander said that he was happy that the Black Press was in Norfolk, home to the largest Naval base in the world, for their annual convention. More than 40 percent of the population of Norfolk is Black.

The theme of the 2018 NNPA annual convention was, “Sustaining, Engaging and Mobilizing Black Communities.”

The convention, which concluded on June 30, brought together many of the 220 African American-owned newspapers and media companies around the country that comprise the Black Press of America.

Alexander praised NNPA members, particularly “The New Journal and Guide” and its publisher Brenda Andrews, who hosted this year’s convention.

“The work you do telling stories—rich and deep stories— that would not ordinarily be told, if not for the Black Press,” said Alexander, a Democrat, who became Norfolk’s first Black mayor and the 99th in the city’s history when he was elected in 2016.

“We thank you, because of the stories that you have been telling over the years…whether it’s [the story of ] Plessy v. Ferguson; whether it’s Brown v. Board of Education; the ending of the poll tax; if it’s [story of ] the election of the first African American mayor of Norfolk—Brenda, you told that story—we certainly thank you for doing that.”

The New Journal and Guide, which was founded in 1900

and has served the Hampton Roads area ever since.

“It’s such a thrill to be the host publisher for the NNPA’s annual convention,” Andrews said.

Not to be outdone, Virginia Democratic Delegate Cliff Hayes also presented NNPA President and CEO Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and NNPA National Chairman Dorothy R. Leavell with a proclamation from the 100-member state House of Delegates.

That proclamation praised the Black Press for its “high quality journalism” and “engagement in African American communities across the nation.”

Dorothy Leavell, the chairman of the NNPA, said that she had fond memories of Norfolk, in 1997; as then-President of the NNPA she remembered that she was treated well.

“This city has grown tremendously since 1997,” Leavell said.

“I can assure you that the warmth and the sincerity that we have been afforded to us have been outstanding.”

Hayes said that it can be challenging to get stories told the way they need to be told in the Black community; that’s why it was so important to honor the NNPA during this year’s convention.

“The House of Delegates saw fit to make sure we honor the NNPA,” Hayes said, noting the 191-year history of the Black Press that started in 1827 with the publication of “Freedom’s Journal,” the first African American-owned and operated newspaper published in the United States.\ “Somebody asked me if we were the Black Press ‘of ’ America or the Black Press ‘in’ America,” Andrews said. “I told that individual that, ‘We are the Black Press ‘of ’ America; we are located ‘in’ America.”

Andrews said that sometimes running a small newspaper with a historic purpose and mission in Norfolk can get a little lonely.

Andrews continued: “But, when I get in the company of my brothers and sisters who own newspapers across the United States, it reminds me of the importance and the purpose for which we were created and have kept to the mission for 191 years.”

Rev. Jesse Jackson Continued from page A1

Sen. Booker said in a statement regarding the legislation.

“This bill will right historical wrongs by acknowledging our country’s stained past and codifying into law our commitment to abolishing this shameful practice.”

Although lynching has been a terrible and traumatic act that has ruined the lives of many Black families for decades, the U.S. has never passed any form of federal anti-lynching legislation since its inception. The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018 highlights the fact that several attempts to pass federal antilynching legislation failed to gain support from the U.S. Senate even though seven sitting U.S. Presidents pushed to have the legislation passed.

“Lynching is a dark, despicable part of our history, and we must acknowledge that, lest we repeat it,” Sen. Harris said in her statement supporting the need for the bill. “From 1882 to 1968 there have been 200 attempts that have failed to get Congress to pass federal anti-lynching legislation; it’s time for that to change.”

The Justice for Victims of Lynching Act of 2018 also points to statistics taken from research compiled by Tuskegee University that reveals more than 4,700 people were lynched between the years 1882 and 1968. The bill also states that about 75 percent of the lynching victims were Black and nearly 99 percent of all perpetrators of lynching escaped from punishment by state or local officials.

“This measure is certainly well past due and I am glad to be able to join in efforts that will underscore the severity of this crime,” Sen. Scott said in his statement highlighting the need for the legislation. “This piece of legislation sends a message that together, as a nation, we condemn the actions of those that try to divide us with violence and hate.”

Congressional lawmakers have known this to be an issue for decades, and in 2005, the U.S. Senate even brought a resolution to the Senate floor, where they sought to apologize for never approving any federal anti-lynching legislation in the history of the country. Sadly, only 80 out of the 100 senators showed up for that vote, which eventually passed on a voice vote only.

Lynching has been at the forefront of many discussions in this country for decades.

Back in April of this year, the National Memorial for Peace and Justice opened up the nation’s first memorial to the public in Montgomery, Alabama, dedicated to the legacy of enslaved Black people, and as a constant reminder to America about the countless number of people who were terrorized by the horrific act of lynching.

Going back even further, the issue of lynching was heavily highlighted by publisher and journalist Ida B. Wells. She led an anti-lynching crusade in the U.S., using her platform of journalism to address the issue of lynching after many Black people, including several of her close friends, were brutally lynched.

In a speech delivered in Chicago in January 1900 entitled “Lynch Law in America,” Wells spoke to the issue of lynching and described the challenges of having a lack of accountability for these brutal and despicable acts of domestic terrorism.

“Our country’s national crime is lynching,” Wells began her speech by saying. She continued, saying, “It is not the creature

News Observer Publisher James Luckey meets with Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

of an hour, the sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury, or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob. It represents the cool, calculating deliberation of intelligent people who openly avow that there is an “unwritten law” that justifies them in putting human beings to death without complaint under oath, without trial by jury, without opportunity to make defense, and without right of appeal…It is considered a sufficient excuse and reasonable justification to put a prisoner to death under this “unwritten law” for the frequently repeated charge that these lynching horrors are necessary…And the world has accepted this theory without let or hindrance.”

Pushing for federal anti-lynching legislation also became a primary focus for the NAACP over time. The NAACP gathered tons of statistics about lynching in the country, and released a chilling report entitled “Thirty Years of Lynching in the United States, 1889–1919” which gave the organization leverage to push for federal legislation.

To date, however, no federal legislation has passed.

Rev. Jackson is still pushing to change that. He believes that having elected officials in Congress who see this as important is significant as well, which is why Rev. Jackson is supportive of the NNPA’s efforts to register 5 million new, Black voters before the November midterm elections.

“We will not stop until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream,” said Rev. Jackson. “We must Keep Hope Alive!”

Thursday, July 5, 2018

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A3

Features

Pressed on Every Side…But Not Defeated

London Breed Overcomes Adversity to Become San Francisco’s First Black Female Mayor

By Jeffrey L. Boney NNPA Newswire Political Analyst Politics can be a dirty game.

It can oftentimes bring out the worst in people. It isn’t for the faint of heart.

On the flip side, however, politics gives us an opportunity to witness individuals rise above the negative elements usually associated with politics, as well as the other challenges they have endured to help them make their mark in history.

Such a feat was witnessed on June 13, as San Francisco Board of Supervisors President London Breed, 43, overcame tremendous adversity and challenges to become the first African American woman to become mayor of San Francisco.

The historic win by Breed also makes her only the second woman in San Francisco’s history to become mayor and the only female mayor in any of the top 15 most populous cities in the United States.

This is a significant victory for African American female candidates. It also speaks to the power of establishing a broad coalition of voters, including targeting a large percentage of Black voters as a base.

While San Francisco has a population of roughly 870,000, it also has one of the smallest percentages of Blacks living there among all of the major U.S. cities—less than 6 percent.

Over 50 percent of the voting electorate came out to vote in this historic election, with a large percentage of Black voters choosing Breed as their candidate for mayor.

As a result of her historic win, Breed will now serve out the remainder of the term of Mayor Ed Lee, whose sudden death as

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The name and address of the court is El nombre y direccion de la corte es): Los Angeles superior court, 111 North Hill St, Los Angeles, Ca 90012, Stanley Mosk Courthouse 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) MARK J. SARNI (164364); RCO LEGAL, P.S. 2121 Alton Parkway #110, Irvine, Ca. 92606 Telephone: (805) 379-8505 Fax: (714) 277-1565 Date: (Fecha) Oct 18, 2017 Clerk (Secretario) Shaunya Bolde, Deputy (Adjunto NOTICE TO THE PERSON SERVED: you are served as an individual defendant.

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a result of a heart attack in December created the need for the June 5th special election. Breed will serve until to 2020, and will undoubtedly run again for a full four-year term.

After the general election, which was held on June 6, Breed found herself with a significant first-choice ballot lead over her closest opponents. She led former state Senator Mark Leno, who is White, by nearly 13 points and her colleague on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Jane Kim, who is Asian, by over 12 points.

Because San Francisco does not use a traditional voting system, but rather a unique ranked-choice voting system, Breed and her supporters had to wait eight days before finding out the historic results.

To get a clearer understanding of what Breed went through to become mayor of San Francisco, you have to better understand the ranked-choice voting system. Basically, when San Francisco voters cast their ballot they get to rank their top three choices for mayor. After all the first-choice votes are tallied, whoever comes in last place gets eliminated and that candidate’s supporters get to have their votes transferred to their second choice. Whoever ends up with the majority of votes during this process wins.

In Breed’s case, although she would have won easily if this were a traditional voting system, she found herself losing her sizeable lead after election day and having Mark Leno take the lead overnight after the ranked-choice voting results started come in. Things were extremely close, but each day after the election, Breed continued to cut into Leno’s lead. Breed eventually overtook Leno and continued to widen her lead over him to the point he had no other choice but to concede, which he did on June 13.

This was by far the closest and most competitive race the city of San Francisco has had for mayor since 1995. It was then that Willie Brown, the first African American mayor of the city, won his runoff election after coming out of the general election with only roughly 2,000 votes.

San Francisco first adopted a ranked-choice voting system in 2002 and has used it since 2004 to elect the mayor, city attorney, 2002 and has used it since 2004 to elect the mayor, city attorney, Board of Supervisors and five additional citywide offices. To date, a little over 10 cities across the U.S. actually use a ranked-choice voting system. The state of Maine adopted the system in 2016 and first used it in June 2018 for all state and federal primary elections.

The journey to the mayor’s office was not an easy one for Breed, especially after enduring months of political maneuvering by her colleagues on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and other non-Black opponents of hers—many who were fellow Democrats. Many people believed the tactics that were used against Breed were racially-motivated and a calculated effort to keep her from her eventual destiny.

Both Leno and Kim were accused of teaming up against Breed, and using questionable tactics to take advantage of San

Francisco’s political system of ranked-choice voting in order to keep her out of the mayor’s seat. Both of them held a joint press conference where they strongly encouraged all of their supporters to choose each other as their second choice on the ballot. They also filmed a commercial ad together to encourage their supporters to vote for each other, while shunning the Black female candidate.

According to exit polls, more than three out of four Kim voters resonated with their calculated message and chose to select Leno as the second choice on their ballot over Breed.

This was not the only questionable move made by Kim and others.

After Mayor Lee’s death in December, Breed became acting mayor, but her colleagues on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors felt that allowing her to keep that role would have given her an unfair advantage of being labeled the incumbent once the next mayoral election rolled around.

In a controversial move, Breed’s colleagues on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, including Kim, voted to strip Breed of her duties as interim mayor back in January. Despite public outcry, the Board of Supervisors decided to install Mark Farrell, a White male, as the interim mayor.

Keep in mind that all of the people involved in this decision to remove a fellow Democrat from that role were Democrats themselves—Leno, Kim, and Farrell. The only difference between Breed and the other Democrats involved is that she is a Black woman. Also keep in mind that it was Kim, who recently sought to become mayor, who was one of the primary individuals leading that charge against Breed.

Another important fact as to why this move was controversial is that a decision to retain Breed in her role as interim mayor after the untimely death of a mayor was not an unprecedented one.

Current California Senator Dianne Feinstein was appointed to become mayor in 1978 after Mayor George Moscone was assassinated.

This lack of overall support of Black candidates, along with the questionable tactics displayed by fellow Democrats, as what Breed experienced, stands out as a longstanding and disturbing trend.

Breed has become the latest proof, however, that this exciting new trend of Black women running for office, locally and nationally, serves as a good indicator that a strong Black turnout could signal even greater outcomes for Black women candidates during November’s midterm elections.

The National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), a trade group that represents over 200 Black-owned media companies across the U.S., recognizes the need to increase Black voter turnout and is continuing its steady push encouraging 5 million new, Black voters to register before the midterm elections, with the hopes of ensuring more candidates like Breed cross the finish line victoriously.

Amelia Ashley-Ward, who serves as NNPA Foundation

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Chair and publisher and owner of the San Francisco Sun-Reporter, believes that Black voter turnout was a major factor in helping get Breed elected.

“The Black community has always been enthusiastic about London Breed’s candidacy for some time,” said Ashley-Ward.

“London was ready and she was qualified, but the way her colleagues on the Board of Supervisors bullied her and chose to push her out of her role as interim mayor truly energized the Black community to get behind her.”

Ashley-Ward states that the Black Press, especially her local newspaper, played a crucial role in helping Breed win and effectively get her message out.

“She was on our front page every week for three months,” said Ashley-Ward. “We ran editorials, educated the entire community about the ranked-choice voting system, shared her platform and encouraged people to become more familiar with who London Breed really was. As a result, more Black people got registered to vote, hosted fundraisers, held rallies and volunteered for her campaign. The Black Press and the Black community did everything possible to make sure London was elected and now she is.”

Breed recently acknowledged that she is “appreciative of the support of the Black Press, as well as the relationship with the Black Press both locally and nationally.”

Breed came from humble beginnings.

Being raised by her grandmother, Comelia Brown, in the projects of San Francisco, Breed never forgot where she came from.

Her grandmother has a lot to do with it. Breed’s grandmother died in 2016 after a long struggle with dementia, but her grandmother’s vision and tenacity to focus on overcoming challenges still sticks with her—as evidenced by this recent quest to become the mayor of San Francisco.

Breed’s grandmother was a housekeeper and taught her to strive to be better and to pursue her education. Breed’s brother went to prison and her younger sister died of a drug overdose in 2006, but that did not stop her from doing exactly what her grandmother encouraged her to do. Breed went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis and then a master’s in public administration from the University of San Francisco. She got her first taste of politics in the mid1990s, serving as an intern for former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown. Breed was responsible for answering the mail and writing proclamations, but she had a hunger for more.

For more than a decade, Breed served as Executive Director of the African American Art & Culture Complex, with an emphasis on providing critical programs for at-risk youth and senior citizens.

In 2012, Breed decided she wanted to get more involved politically, so she challenged the incumbent member of the Board of Supervisors in her district and won. She had served in that role since being elected and has been elected by her colleagues as president since 2015.

Now, Breed will be sworn in as the 45th mayor of San Francisco on July 11. The road she has traveled can be best summed up by the scripture in the Bible from the book of 2 Corinthians 4:8 that reads, “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair.”

London Breed has shown the world that in spite of tremendous adversity and obstacles, you too can overcome.

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NNPA Newswire Political Analyst Jeffrey Boney says that London Breed’s historic win in San Francisco’s recent mayoral election speaks to the power of establishing a broad coalition of voters, including targeting a large percentage of Black voters as a base. (Freddie Allen/AMG/NNPA)

By JOE SEVERINO Charleston Gazette-Mail BLUEFIELD, W.Va. (AP) - Dr. Patrice Harris is a Bluefield native, a West Virginia University graduate, and she is now the first African-American woman elected as president of the American Medical Association.

Harris will become the 174th president of the AMA in June 2019, and is now serving as president-elect. She was elected to the post earlier this month. She practices psychiatry in Atlanta, a long way from the hometown that produced her.

“I enjoyed growing up in Bluefield,” Harris said. “It was a thriving town during my years.”

It was a normal childhood for Harris, one that many can relate to.

“I was a majorette, and so Friday night football, of course, was huge with the Bluefield Beavers,” Harris said.

But when it came time to leave Bluefield for WVU, Harris didn’t have much guidance on how to get to where she wanted to be _ into medical school.

“No one in my family had gone to medical school, and I had no family friends that did,” Harris said. “It is not an easy thing to do if you don’t know or don’t have guidance as what to major in.”

She was inspired to go into the health profession for her love of children, her desire to help her community and, notably,

by TV family physician Marcus Welby, from the show “Marcus Welby, M.D.” “I was inspired because Marcus Welby not only took an interest in his patients’ lives inside the exam room, but he also cared about their lives outside the exam room,” Harris said. “I recall some episodes where he was involved in community-wide issues and that inspired me.

“I knew that physicians were well-respected members of the community,” Harris continued, “and therefore would have a platform to address broader community issues that affect patients’ health.”

She made it to WVU, received her undergraduate degree

in psychology in 1982, and then went on to pursue her master’s degree. Then it came time for her doctorate.

“It was my plan to be a pediatrician, and that was my plan up until my third year of medical school,” Harris said. “The brain was just fascinating to me, and when I went to my third-year psychiatry clerkship I felt at home, and I then decided that I could merge my love for working with children and adolescents with psychiatry.”

But it wasn’t always smooth sailing for her. She had her doubters when she arrived at medical school.

“At some points in my journey, there wasn’t as much encouragement, and in fact, some discouragement,” Harris said.

“I recall early on I had been advised to perhaps go into nursing and not medicine. Nursing is a very noble career and noble profession, but it wasn’t what I wanted to do.

“So, it could have been related to the fact that I was a woman, the fact that I was a person of color,” Harris said. “I don’t know.”

She graduated WVU’s medical school in 1992, and began practicing and serving in organized medicine. She served on the American Psychiatric Association board and was later named by the APA as a delegate to the AMA. Harris was elected to the AMA board of trustees in June 2011, and has and will continue to chair the AMA’s opioid task force. She has also chaired the AMA Council on Legislation and co-chaired the Women Physicians Congress.

As head of the opioids task force and being from Southern West Virginia, Harris has been able to see firsthand the challenges the area faces. But she also recognizes there are different fixes to the opioid epidemic in each area of the country.

“The solutions to this are local, there is no one-size-fits-all solution that will work everywhere,” Harris said, “and so, what will work in West Virginia may not work in Georgia.”

The task force reported May 31 that opioid prescriptions across the country have continued to drop for the fifth year in a row, doctors across the country accessed state prescription drug monitoring programs at a 122 percent higher rate than the previous year and the overdose-reversing medication naloxone, or Narcan, is now highly more accessible.

In her vision for the AMA, Harris said she wants to improve the education of up and coming medical professionals. “(The) AMA has, and will continue to be, a partner in innovating how we educate the next generation of physicians,” Harris said.

With all the accolades and honors, Harris said she is glad to have a diverse background and hopes to apply it to her new position and future policies.

“Every detour I have taken on my journey I appreciate because I learn and have learned from every detour, every challenge, and I think its just all gone together to get me to where I am today,” Harris said.

And she’s always had the encouragement from the people who mean the most to her, even when the journey got tough.

“I always knew from my family and my parents that I could be whatever I wanted to be,” Harris said.

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THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Sports

Thursday, July 5, 2018

President Trump Scraps Visit with NFL Winners Toxic Trump White House Cancels Philadelphia Eagles Visit after Few Players Plan to Show

By Lauren Victoria Burke NNPA Newswire Contributor In a series of events that the Trump White House has become known for, a visit by the 2018 NFL Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles was cancelled after they informed the White House that a small team delegation of about ten players was planning to attend.

Though President Trump continues to frame the conversation around NFL player protests against police brutality as a question of patriotism, the facts tell another story. During the 2017 NFL seasons, no Philadelphia Eagles players knelt during the playing of the national anthem.

The White House Press Office sent out a statement from President Trump that in part read that the Philadelphia Eagles “were unable to come to the White House with their full team” and that. “They disagree with their President, because he insists that they proudly stand for the National Anthem, hand on heart, in honor of the great men and women of our military and the people of our country. The Eagles wanted to send a smaller delegation, but the 1,000 fans planning to attend the event deserve better.”

After Fox News, which many have said is nothing more that the unofficial propaganda arm of the Trump White House, used images of Eagles players kneeling in prayer rather than in protest for a piece on the cancelled event, heavy criticism rolled in.

“This can’t be serious,” wrote Eagles tight end Zach Ertz on Twitter. “Praying before games with my teammates, well before the anthem, is being used for your propaganda?! Just sad, I feel like you guys should have to be better than this.”

Former Bush Administration official Richard Painter wrote on Twitter that Trump “is a racist” and “He thinks the NFL should be run like a plantation, where the “owners” tell the players when to stand, sit or kneel.”

Painter continued: “He needs to go. Now.” Painter is also a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.

In response to the cancelled White House event, former Eagles wide receiver Torrey Smith tweeted, “It’s a cowardly act to cancel the celebration because the majority of the people don’t want to see you. To make it about the anthem is foolish.”

Rep. Ryan Costello, a Republican member of Congress from Pennsylvania, sided with the Eagles.

Costello tweeted: “Eagles my fave team. Super Bowl win so meaningful as Philly sports fan. POTUS handled poorly. This is a depressing commentary on our political culture, very deflating to me. Was really excited for today. As a fan who bleeds green. Not going to WH. Disappointed in all of this.”

In a statement about the cancelled visit, the White House said, “We will honor our great country, pay tribute to the heroes who fight to protect it, and loudly and proudly play the National Anthem.”

President Trump tweeted: “The Philadelphia Eagles Football Team was invited to the White House. Unfortunately, only a small number of players decided to come, and we canceled the event. Staying in the Locker Room for the playing of our National Anthem is as disrespectful to our country as kneeling. Sorry!”

Like so much else during President Trump’s short time in the White House, few things have gone on without at least some controversy. Much of that stems from the president’s penchant for self-absorption and divisiveness. That includes what is typically a routine visit to honor a championship sports team.

President Donald Trump scrapped a visit with the 2018 NFL Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles after learning that only a small team delegation would attend. Photo taken during the Eagles’ championship parade in Philadelphia. (The Office of Governor Tom Wolf/Flickr)

LeBron James Lakers Contract

Continued from page A1

from Kobe Bryant, who won five titles during 20 seasons with Los Angeles.

“Welcome to the family @KingJames,” Bryant said on Twitter . “#lakers4life #striveforgreatness.”

James and Bryant were Olympic teammates and there has been a perceived rivalry between the pair of alpha males. They’re now linked like never before and if James wants to prepare for his eventual life after basketball, who better to learn from than Johnson, who has made a fortune as a business entrepreneur, or Bryant, an Academy Award winner.

The massive Los Angeles market will also provide James with a grander platform for his philanthropy and social activism. He already owns two homes in Southern California and has a film production company.

This is the third time in eight years James has changed teams. After bolting from Cleveland in 2010, he returned in an emotional homecoming four years later, determined to make the Cavs champions. The 33-year-old had previously said he wanted

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to finish his career in Ohio, and although he’s leaving again, Cavs fans are more forgiving after he ended the city’s 52-year sport title drought in 2016.

Shortly after the announcement, which came in a surprising manner, James posted a three-photo tribute to Cleveland fans on his Instagram account.

“Thank you Northeast Ohio for an incredible four seasons,” James wrote. “This will always be home.”

But there will always be a portion of Cleveland fans disappointed that James left again and that he wouldn’t give the Cavs a longer commitment. His deal with the Lakers is his longest since he signed for six years with Miami in 2010.

And unlike eight years ago when he ripped James for leaving, Cavs owner Dan Gilbert thanked him. Gilbert opened his comments by referring to Cleveland’s 2016 title as “a championship that united generations of Clevelanders, both living and passed.”

“LeBron, you came home and delivered the ultimate goal,” Gilbert said in a statement . “Nothing but appreciation and gratitude for everything you put into every moment you spent in a Cavaliers uniform. We look forward to the retirement of the famous #23 Cavs jersey one day down the line...”

On Friday, James informed the Cavs that he was not exercising his $35.6 million option and becoming a free agent.

While in Los Angeles following a family vacation, he spoke to Cavs general manager Koby Altman moments after free agency opened on Sunday, and it appears that was more a courtesy than a chance for Cleveland to make one last pitch.

Cleveland’s roster was exposed during this year’s finals, and James may not have seen a way for it to improve enough to win a fourth title.

James gave Cleveland something to remember in his final season. He played in all 82 regular-season games and then somehow carried a team that underwent several transformations to a fourth straight conference title and matchup against the Warriors.

As has been the case in the past, James didn’t have enough help as the Cavs were swept, dropping him to 3-6 in the NBA Finals — a record sometimes used to compare him to Michael Jordan.

His stay with the Cavaliers will best be remembered for 2016, when he rallied the Cavs from a 3-1 deficit in the finals to stun the Warriors. James helped seal a Game 7 win with a chasedown block of Andre Iguodala, the signature moment of a career that has shown no signs of decay.

With the Lakers, James will be playing in the Western Conference for the first time and just down the Pacific Coast Highway from the Warriors, the team that has stymied him three times in the past four finals.

The chance to play for one of America’s most storied franchises is a new challenge for James, who prides himself on knowing the game’s history. In Los Angeles, championships are the standard and he’ll feel new pressure in upholding the legacies of Johnson, Bryant, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jerry West and other Lakers greats.

It’s now his turn.

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Los Angeles Rams Host Cheerleader 2018 Auditions

The Valley’s

March 1, Thursday,

ers of Southern

Observer

Volume 33

Number 18

S) ONG SISTAH PIRING STR (KEEP INS at

tre Women’s Re rbank Held in Bu

2018

Rams Los Angeles ader Host Cheerle s ition8th at through March 2018 Aud

California

Group Newspap

wife, enawson, to singers Tina Knowles-L (Car, and mother Knowles. News trepreneur & Solonge os Angeles Beyoncé rington Prichett/L Photo) Observer

May Register Candidates cheerauditions cheerleader March Rams are hosting attherams.com/2018 The Los Angeles season starting Sunday, perform the 2018 rs not only at auditions for Rams Cheerleade Coliseum and 11. Los Angeles at the LA Memorial also participate service at home games in Mexico City, but community Estadio Azteca internas, events and nationally and in public appearance Angeles region, t the year. or oldacross the Los must be 18 tionally throughou online by looking to audition Candidates March 1, and must register is not availer by Thursday, 8. Walk-up registration y auditions Thursday, Marchfrom last year’s preliminar /videos. able. Coverageat therams.com/cheerRams Cheerleaders can be viewed to auditions the Los Angeles In addition,voluntary workshops prior the LA region. t four are hosting Fitness locations throughou led by Chon hour of dance at 24 Hour includes one followed by a presentatio Each workshop PETERS, Rams Cheerleading Diper the reographer JOHN cost $40.00 last segment with Workshops and a Q & A FIMBRES. Footage from candiavailability. rector KEELY have limited viewed here. Interested person and can be at therams.com/cheer year’s workshops up for workshops dates may sign leaders/workshops.

(KEEP INSPIRING STRONG SISTAHS)

Women’s Retreat Held in Burbank

Tina Knowles-Lawson, wife, entrepreneur, and mother to singers Beyoncé & Solonge Knowles. (Carrington Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

By Darlene L. Williams Los Angeles Contributing Beat Writer BURBANK, CA- The K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspiring Tina Knowles-Lawson further empowered the enerpe of HoWomen’s Strong retreat was held Saturday, Feb- getic group with an open question and answer session in geSistahs) Messa U’s CS e ruary, 24th at the Ramada- Burbank Airport Hotel from relation to operating successful businesses.

Th 1 p.m. to 9.m. The one-day event geared towards inspir“The best businesses are services people need. You ing and empowering women to love themselves, featured want to have a product that people need,” explained dia Keynote Speaker,rni andaMulti-Award Winner, TinaasCampan Knowles-Lawson.

Black Me Tex Womin Pan ts of Ca the lifo famed sister duo, Mary Mary and Q es and t to “Find a couple of people you can trust, she said. anbell Defaecat gs PG&E’s Gr A session with entrepreneur, designer, philanthropist, to Hide Dru Knowles-Lawson along with husband, Actor Richmotivational speaker, and mother of iconic daughters ard Lawson successfully operates and owns WACO Beyonce’ and Solange; Tina Knowles-Lawson.

(Where Art Can Occur) Theater Group in Los Angeles, The event also included a One-Woman Stage play, where they mentor inner-city youths. an All Male Panel Discussion (What Men REALLY “I’ve always dreamed of mentoring young girls”, she Want?) hosted by Fox 11 News Reporter, Leah Uko; and said.

Flying Over 50 Exotic Dance Coach, Makeda Smith.

Event founder, producer, life-coach, and celebriCampbell, spoke to a group of about 70 women ty hairstylist, Stephanie Singleton told The Bakersfield about the importance of faith, forgiveness, and healing.

News Observer; that the overall message intended “I’m a person of faith, Campbell said. Jesus is for women is that they embrace their “outer and what I do”. inner beauty”.

Campbell, spoke about her marriage to Robert Coats and Brandon Ellis both husband, Teddy Campbell. “I dealt with his inflew out from Akron, Ohio to support Singlefidelity very publicly and it almost destroyed ton and the K.I.S.S. retreat.

“I’m here my marriage. I’ve overcome the opinions of to support the movem e n t people,” she said. and brand. It’s power“God has your life fully orchestrated, Campful for bell told the attentive group, as she began to the womsoftly sing her hit song, “Destiny” an culture. This “I’ve got a destination in my view/ is a great time to push the road may be bumpy getting there/ for the woman, it’s so importBut I’m pressing through/ I will enjoy ant,” Coats said. this journey/ No matter come what “It’s a nice atmosphere; it’s nice what may/ I’ll become better and she’s (Singleton) doing for the women. stronger/ and wiser every It’s important to make women feel powerday.” ful, Ellis said. We are kings and queens.” “ W h y Additionally, Veteran Entertainlook good er and Flying Over 50 Exotic Dance when you can be Coach, Makeda Smith encouraged the good,” Campbell women in attendance to move their said. hips and to “awaken the sleeping goddess within.” “When was the last time Exotic Dance Coach, Makeda Smith leading you shook your hips? Smith asked. the audience in a dance practice. (Carrington Soon the energetic and funny Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

Billy Graham Civil Rights Regrets Page A4

Page A6

News Observer K.I.S.S.

By Darlene L. Williams Los Angeles Contributing Beat Writer BURBANK, CA- The K.I.S.S. (Keep Inspiring Strong Sistahs) Women’s retreat was held Saturday, February, 24th at the Ramada- Burbank Airport Hotel from 1 p.m. to 9.m. The one-day event geared towards inspiring and empowering women to love themselves, featured Keynote Speaker, and Multi-Award Winner, Tina Campbell of the famed sister duo, Mary Mary and a Q and A session with entrepreneur, designer, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and mother of iconic daughters Beyonce’ and Solange; Tina Knowles-Lawson.

The event also included a One-Woman Stage play, an All Male Panel Discussion (What Men REALLY Want?) hosted by Fox 11 News Reporter, Leah Uko; and Flying Over 50 Exotic Dance Coach, Makeda Smith.

Campbell, spoke to a group of about 70 women about the importance of faith, forgiveness, and healing.

“I’m a person of faith, Campbell said. Jesus is what I do”.

Campbell, spoke about her marriage to husband, Teddy Campbell. “I dealt with his infidelity very publicly and it almost destroyed my marriage. I’ve overcome the opinions of people,” she said.

“God has your life fully orchestrated, Campbell told the attentive group, as she began to softly sing her hit song, “Destiny” “I’ve got a destination in my view/ the road may be bumpy getting there/ But I’m pressing through/ I will enjoy this journey/ No matter come what may/ I’ll become better and stronger/ and wiser every day.” “ W h y look good when you can be good,” Campbell said.

Mayors California Billion Seek $1.5 eless to Help Hom

Continued

Candidates May Register through March 8th at attherams.com/2018cheerauditions The Los Angeles Rams are hosting cheerleader Bill Cosby’s auditions for the 2018 season starting Sunday, March Daughter Ensa Dies at 44 11. Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders not only perform at home games at the LA Memorial Coliseum and The at Valley’s Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but also participate in public appearances, events and community service across the Los Angeles region, nationally and internationally throughout the year.

Candidates looking to audition must be 18 or older by Thursday, March 1, and must register online by Thursday, March 8. Walk-up registration is not available. Coverage from last year’s preliminary auditions (KEEP INSPIRING STRONG SISTAHS) can be viewed at therams.com/cheer/videos.

Women’s Retreat In addition, the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders Held in Burbank are hosting four voluntary workshops prior to auditions at 24 Hour Fitness locations throughout the LA region.

Each workshop includes one hour of dance led by Choreographer JOHN PETERS, followed by a presentation and a Q & A segment with the Rams Cheerleading Director KEELY FIMBRES. Workshops cost $40.00 per person and have limited availability. Footage from last year’s workshops can be viewed here. Interested candidates may sign up for workshops at therams.com/cheerleaders/workshops.

Volume 33 Number 18

Female First Black to Nominated Fame of female e Hall _ The first black Stat Conn. (AP) is being nominated to HARTFORD, Assembly

the enerempowered awson further and answer session in L. Williams Tina Knowles-L question

By Darlene g Beat Writer (Keep Inspiring getic group with an open You Febsuccessful businesses.

Los Angeles Contributin people need.

CA- The K.I.S.S. to operating was held Saturday, BURBANK, from relation best businesses are services need,” explained Women’s retreat people Airport Hotelinspir“The General Strong Sistahs)the Ramada- Burbank a product that Fame. towards at member of the t Women’s Hall of was first elected to said. want to have event geared ruary, 24th can trust, she The one-day to love themselves, featured Knowles-Lawson.

E. Morton the Connecticu She served four of people you husband, Actor RichCamp1 p.m. to 9.m. g women The late Margaret tives in 1972. a Dem“Find a couple rd Winner, Tinaa Q and along with Representa owns WACO ing and empowerin . She later wonand then and Multi-Awa Mary and the House of Knowles-Lawson operates and in Los Angeles, g Bridgeport senator pist, Keynote Speaker, sister duo, Mary successfully court terms, representin famed Theater Group designer, philanthro ard Lawson against an incumbent after a lengthy bell of the entrepreneur, iconic daughters (Where Art Can Occur) ocratic primary the general election youths. of with girls”, she mother A session mentor inner-city Democrats. went on to win awson. speaker, and mentoring young eventually bewhere they redreamed of motivational Solange; Tina Knowles-L the Senate, an Stage play, battle with Bridgeport “I’ve always six terms in tempore in 1990. She and celebriBeyonce’ and also included a One-WomMen REALLY She served life-coach, Bakersfield president pro (What said.

The event and producer, The Uko; Discussion coming deputyand died in 2012. told founder, Leah Panel Event legislators nominated an All Male by Fox 11 News Reporter, Smith. message intended Stephanie Singleton tired in 1992 black women “quiet determiCoach, Makeda70 women ty hairstylist,Observer; that the overall their “outer and Four current of fame, citing her Want?) hosted News 50 Exotic Dance the hall they embrace group of about and racism. are accepted on Flying Over Morton to women is that , and healing. spoke to a prejudice for Campbell. both fame fight of to Tina forgiveness Ellis Campbell, scholars nation” e of faith, for the hall inner beauty”. Coats and Brandon Gospel Artist, Observer Phosaid. Jesus is Nominationsand reviewed by a consulting my Winningos Angeles News about the importanc Robert to support Singleof faith, Campbell basis Akron, Ohio n Prichett/L “I’m here Multi-Gram “I’m a person an ongoing to (Carringto flew out from . m e n t her marriage inK.I.S.S. retreat. committee to) the what I do”. about and ton spoke the movepowerdealt with his Campbell, rGetsOld, had to support as Campbell. “I almost destroyed is #SexyNeve It’s ful for it and brand. husband, Teddy whose motto and moving. It appeared of publicly and as the feet 57 year-old, the womfidelity very I’ve overcome the opinions up on their been awakened,a sultry had women This the goddesses to side to my marriage.said. an culture. d, Campif all the sleepingtheir hips from side the inspirational to push people,” she for to life fully orchestrate is a great time women swayed tune Smith used as she began “God has your it’s so importblues attentive group, event and soulful for the woman, Actress and bell told the hit song, “Destiny” from Calview/ moment. said.

Author, Aspiring for self-love and (AP) _ Mayors e; it’s nice what softly sing her a destination in my ant,” Coats Bridgett LaRe’, NTO, Calif.on Wednesday asked state was looking it was God.” women.

“I’ve got “It’s a nice atmospher getting there/ SACRAME what the BNO, “I knew doing for the powerbe bumpy will enjoy largest cities billion to help with attendee, toldme about the retreat; I said another event feel the road may $1.5 ifornia’s eleven she’s (Singleton) through/ I what to provide to make women a friend told a flyer at church, I’m trying to lawmakers growing homeless crisis. would require the But I’m pressing It’s important We are kings and queens.”

“I was handedTowner of Los Angeles, No matter comeand billion they say is a backing legislation that this journey/ ful, Ellis said.

Veteran Entertaincreating a $3 tempomovebecome better attendee, LaToya Dance They are Additionally, place; it’s a may/ I’ll matching funds, wiser every Over 50 Exotic that the find myself.” stems from a personal affordable housing, cities to provide stronger/ and er and Flying Smith encouraged women to know outreach. leaders to be spent on you “K.I.S.S. pot of money supportive services and said. I’m helping robbed us if to move their day.”

Coach, Makeda to legislative attendance ment, Singleton with love and someone rary shelters, in an earlier letter “ W h y the state’s $6.1 women in “awaken the sleeping godborn They said should use a quarter of good we were all love yourself.” hips and to “When was the last time look homeless. you the say be lawmakers can’t that asked. called it “the dess within.” surplus to help when you can hips? Smith billion budget Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer today.’’ you shook your energetic and funny good,” Campbell the San Diego California cities Soon the estimate that issue facing said. homea 2017 federal most pressing Smith leading cited 134,000 n Makeda than more (Carringto Coach, The mayors Photo) state now has Exotic Dance in a dance practice.

Demomost populous News Observer the audience day that two billion os Angeles Prichett/L less people. came the same seek $2 Their request announced they will to the mayors’ in response cratic state senators housing, also Los y. She wanted for affordable mayors from and opportunit to excel in Fresno, requests. group includes system to access son continued becoming The bipartisan San Jose, San Francisco, , Anaof the CSU Bakersfield Diego, that if her great-grand his dream of he should M. Coley reassurance Angeles, San Sacramento, Oakland, one day achieve courses

By Dr. SorayaPoly Pomona Gov. e of CSU’s Super school, he might also wanted advice on her husband were Long Beach, months after President, Cal reflecting on the importanc I had meet- an astronaut. She She and and Santa Ana. set less than six into law. They imto heim college. come experience for trying Photo) was an I him were introAs was a The proposals 15 housing bills resources but mother who take to prepare came to mind M. Coley (Courtesy fee and placed signed Dr. Soraya Sunday, what American great-grand son that she and her in their 70s and had few Jerry Brown $75 real estate transaction November ballot. great-grand message about the ing an African posed a new bond on the her 8-year-old my A2 duced me to raising. She had heard and the commitment Continued on page $4 billion housing degree husband were of a college increasing value

a

By Tony Khing Media PG&E presentedefCalifornia Black NTO -- On Feb. 22, to help their SACRAME California Black Media outlets to erican news t was $53,000 grant major African-Am The endowmen California forts in supporting service area. company’s event at The eight Afwithin the a multicultural media CBM with given during co-hosted by PG&E and organizations. t the AfriEndowmen print and broadcast to support sperican-American we work hard but February is a “At PG&E, all year, of many community acknowledgement can-American it’s a formal made significant cial month because erican heroes who’ve erican press is a African-Am African-Am We’re unsung community. We in history. The contributions in the African- American their work. to support vital resource with them work with them in 2018 to initiapleased to partner to continuing energy policy Jimi look forward PG&E updates and Manager ty Relations on important PG&E Communi Post tives,” said such as The other and Harris. from outlets Representatives andSacramento Observer rate plan Time of Use Reporter usage.

News, Sun ned about PG&E’s their energy media outlets lear can better manage received informa and how customers session, they also one-hour During the

FREE!

Exotic Dance Coach, Makeda Smith leading the audience in a dance practice. (Carrington Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

Observer Group Newspapers of Southern California

Tina Knowles-Lawson further empowered the energetic group with an open question and answer session in relation to operating successful businesses.

“The best businesses are services people need. You want to have a product that people need,” explained Knowles-Lawson.

“Find a couple of people you can trust, she said.

Knowles-Lawson along with husband, Actor Richard Lawson successfully operates and owns WACO (Where Art Can Occur) Theater Group in Los Angeles, where they mentor inner-city youths.

“I’ve always dreamed of mentoring young girls”, she said.

Event founder, producer, life-coach, and celebrity hairstylist, Stephanie Singleton told The Bakersfield News Observer; that the overall message intended for women is that they embrace their “outer and inner beauty”.

Robert Coats and Brandon Ellis both flew out from Akron, Ohio to support Singleton and the K.I.S.S. retreat.

“I’m here to support the movem e n t and brand. It’s p owe r ful for the woman culture. This is a great time to push for the woman, it’s so important,” Coats said.

“It’s a nice atmosphere; it’s nice what she’s (Singleton) doing for the women.

It’s important to make women feel powerful, Ellis said. We are kings and queens.”

Additionally, Veteran Entertainer and Flying Over 50 Exotic Dance Coach, Makeda Smith encouraged the women in attendance to move their hips and to “awaken the sleeping goddess within.” “When was the last time you shook your hips? Smith asked.

Soon the energetic and funny

First Black Female Nominated to State Hall of Fame

Tina Knowles-Lawson, wife, entrepreneur, and mother to singers Beyoncé & Solonge Knowles. (Carrington Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

Multi-Grammy Winning Gospel Artist, Tina Campbell.

(Carrington Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

57 year-old, whose motto is #SexyNeverGetsOld, had the women up on their feet and moving. It appeared as if all the sleeping goddesses had been awakened, as the women swayed their hips from side to side to a sultry and soulful blues tune Smith used for the inspirational moment.

Bridgett LaRe’, Author, Aspiring Actress and event attendee, told the BNO, “I was looking for self-love and a friend told me about the retreat; I knew it was God.” “I was handed a flyer at church, said another event attendee, LaToya Towner of Los Angeles, I’m trying to find myself.”

“K.I.S.S. stems from a personal place; it’s a movement, Singleton said. I’m helping women to know that we were all born with love and someone robbed us if you can’t say you love yourself.”

The CSU’s Message of Hope

By Dr. Soraya M. Coley President, Cal Poly Pomona As I was reflecting on the importance of CSU’s Super Sunday, what came to mind was an experience I had meeting an African American great-grandmother who introduced me to her 8-year-old great-grandson that she and her husband were raising. She had heard my message about the increasing value of a college degree and the commitment

of the CSU system to access and opportunity. She wanted reassurance that if her great-grandson continued to excel in school, he might one day achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. She also wanted advice on courses he should take to prepare him for college. She and her husband were in their 70s and had few resources but were trying to set Continued on page A2

Dr. Soraya M. Coley (Courtesy Photo)

PG&E’s Grant to California Black Media

By Tony Khing California Black Media SACRAMENTO -- On Feb. 22, PG&E presented a $53,000 grant to California Black Media to help their efforts in supporting major African-American news outlets within the company’s service area. The endowment was given during a multicultural media event at The California Endowment co-hosted by PG&E and CBM with eight African-American print and broadcast organizations.

“At PG&E, we work hard to support the African-American community all year, but February is a special month because it’s a formal acknowledgement of many unsung African-American heroes who’ve made significant contributions in history. The African-American press is a vital resource in the African- American community. We’re pleased to partner with them to support their work. We look forward to continuing to work with them in 2018 on important PG&E updates and energy policy initiatives,” said PG&E Community Relations Manager Jimi Harris.

Representatives from outlets such as The Post News, Sun Reporter andSacramento Observer and other media outlets learned about PG&E’s Time of Use rate plan and how customers can better manage their energy usage.

During the one-hour session, they also received informa

a Texas _ Police say arrest by Texas (AP) an CORSICANA,to hide evidence during to conceal using the feces woman attempted her pants and defecating in (88 kilomea about 55 miles drugs. g a report of investigatin when they atOfficers in Corsicana, of Dallas, were ters ) south take her into store on Wednesday suspect and Martin in the theft at a grocery subdue a female Shannen ly tempted to say they placed say she intentional custody. Police cruiser where they pipe, 2.3 grams hid a crack card in her exback of a police her pants then Day defecated in and a Valentine’s feces of crack cocaine woman’s the on crement. to sift through was booked a Officers had of after Martin PG&E, the evidence evidence and possession to retrieve with Energy Efficiency, tampering of Customer Dionne Adams, President charges , PG&E, Voice, Smith, Manager Operations Fernandez Central Valley Bell, V.P. controlled substance.

PG&E, Julia Diversity,O’Connell,PPG&E, Allen CBM, Valerie Roberts, Publisher, Manager, Director, Manager, Supplier Program Sun Reporter, Felicia Hub, Libby Real, Sr. Wilson, Executive Sac Cultural Jerilyn Gleaves, PG&E, rd, Publisher,y Support, Regina L to R Justin , Publisher, ations, Ashley-Wa

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ The first black female member of the General Assembly is being nominated to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

The late Margaret E. Morton was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972. She served four terms, representing Bridgeport. She later won a Democratic primary against an incumbent senator and then went on to win the general election after a lengthy court battle with Bridgeport Democrats.

She served six terms in the Senate, eventually becoming deputy president pro tempore in 1990. She retired in 1992 and died in 2012.

Four current black women legislators nominated Morton to the hall of fame, citing her “quiet determination” to fight prejudice and racism.

Nominations for the hall of fame are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed by a consulting scholars committee.

Continued on page A2

Robertson Communit Amelia ral Communic Multicultu Media Group, Pleshette of Black Employees Integrated One New Fiona Chan Publisher,One New Media Group.

Dudley Najieb, Lennice Najieb, G&E and

on page A2

Multi-Grammy Winning Gospel Artist, Tina Campbell.

(Carrington Prichett/Los Angeles News Observer Photo)

57 year-old, whose motto is #SexyNeverGetsOld, had the women up on their feet and moving. It appeared as if all the sleeping goddesses had been awakened, as the women swayed their hips from side to side to a sultry and soulful blues tune Smith used for the inspirational moment.

Bridgett LaRe’, Author, Aspiring Actress and event attendee, told the BNO, “I was looking for self-love and a friend told me about the retreat; I knew it was God.” “I was handed a flyer at church, said another event attendee, LaToya Towner of Los Angeles, I’m trying to find myself.”

“K.I.S.S. stems from a personal place; it’s a movement, Singleton said. I’m helping women to know that we were all born with love and someone robbed us if you can’t say you love yourself.”

The CSU’s Message of Hope

L to R Justin Real, Sr. Program Manager, PG&E, Allen Fernandez Smith, Manager Customer Energy Efficiency, PG&E, Amelia Ashley-Ward, Publisher, Sun Reporter, Felicia Roberts, Publisher, Central Valley Voice, Dionne Adams, President of Black Employees Community Support, Regina Wilson, Executive Director, CBM, Valerie Bell, V.P. Operations, PG&E, Fiona Chan Integrated Multicultural Communications, PG&E, Jerilyn Gleaves, Manager, Supplier Diversity, PG&E, Julia Dudley Najieb, Publisher, One New Media Group, Pleshette Robertson, Publisher, Sac Cultural Hub, Libby O’Connell,PG&E and Lennice Najieb, One New Media Group.

attherams.com/2018cheerauditions The Los Angeles Rams are hosting cheerleader auditions for the 2018 season starting Sunday, March 11. Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders not only perform at home games at the LA Memorial Coliseum and at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, but also participate in public appearances, events and community service across the Los Angeles region, nationally and internationally throughout the year.

Candidates looking to audition must be 18 or older by Thursday, March 1, and must register online by Thursday, March 8. Walk-up registration is not available. Coverage from last year’s preliminary auditions can be viewed at therams.com/cheer/videos.

In addition, the Los Angeles Rams Cheerleaders are hosting four voluntary workshops prior to auditions at 24 Hour Fitness locations throughout the LA region.

Each workshop includes one hour of dance led by Choreographer JOHN PETERS, followed by a presentation and a Q & A segment with the Rams Cheerleading Director KEELY FIMBRES. Workshops cost $40.00 per person and have limited availability. Footage from last year’s workshops can be viewed here. Interested candidates may sign up for workshops at therams.com/cheerleaders/workshops.

First Black Female Nominated to State Hall of Fame

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) _ The first black female member of the General Assembly is being nominated to the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame.

The late Margaret E. Morton was first elected to the House of Representatives in 1972. She served four terms, representing Bridgeport. She later won a Democratic primary against an incumbent senator and then went on to win the general election after a lengthy court battle with Bridgeport Democrats.

She served six terms in the Senate, eventually becoming deputy president pro tempore in 1990. She retired in 1992 and died in 2012.

Four current black women legislators nominated Morton to the hall of fame, citing her “quiet determination” to fight prejudice and racism.

Nominations for the hall of fame are accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed by a consulting scholars committee.

California Mayors Seek $1.5 Billion to Help Homeless

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Mayors from California’s eleven largest cities on Wednesday asked state lawmakers to provide $1.5 billion to help with what they say is a growing homeless crisis.

They are backing legislation that would require the cities to provide matching funds, creating a $3 billion pot of money to be spent on affordable housing, temporary shelters, supportive services and outreach.

They said in an earlier letter to legislative leaders that lawmakers should use a quarter of the state’s $6.1 billion budget surplus to help the homeless.

San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer called it “the most pressing issue facing California cities today.’’

The mayors cited a 2017 federal estimate that the most populous state now has more than 134,000 homeless people.

Their request came the same day that two Democratic state senators announced they will seek $2 billion for affordable housing, also in response to the mayors’ requests.

The bipartisan group includes mayors from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim and Santa Ana. The proposals come less than six months after Gov. Jerry Brown signed 15 housing bills into law. They imposed a new $75 real estate transaction fee and placed a $4 billion housing bond on the November ballot.

Texas Woman Defecates in Pants to Hide Drugs CORSICANA, Texas (AP) _ Police say a Texas woman attempted to hide evidence during an arrest by defecating in her pants and using the feces to conceal drugs.

Officers in Corsicana, about 55 miles (88 kilometers ) south of Dallas, were investigating a report of a theft at a grocery store on Wednesday when they attempted to subdue a female suspect and take her into custody. Police say they placed Shannen Martin in the back of a police cruiser where they say she intentionally defecated in her pants then hid a crack pipe, 2.3 grams of crack cocaine and a Valentine’s Day card in her excrement.

Officers had to sift through the woman’s feces to retrieve the evidence after Martin was booked on charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a controlled substance.

California Mayors Seek $1.5 Billion to Help Homeless

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) _ Mayors from California’s eleven largest cities on Wednesday asked state lawmakers to provide $1.5 billion to help with what they say is a growing homeless crisis.

They are backing legislation that would require the cities to provide matching funds, creating a $3 billion pot of money to be spent on affordable housing, temporary shelters, supportive services and outreach.

They said in an earlier letter to legislative leaders that lawmakers should use a quarter of the state’s $6.1 billion budget surplus to help the homeless.

San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer called it “the most pressing issue facing California cities today.’’

The mayors cited a 2017 federal estimate that the most populous state now has more than 134,000 homeless people.

Their request came the same day that two Democratic state senators announced they will seek $2 billion for affordable housing, also in response to the mayors’ requests.

The bipartisan group includes mayors from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Long Beach, Sacramento, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim and Santa Ana. The proposals come less than six months after Gov. Jerry Brown signed 15 housing bills into law. They imposed a new $75 real estate transaction fee and placed a $4 billion housing bond on the November ballot.

valleynewsobserver.com

By Dr. Soraya M. Coley President, Cal Poly Pomona As I was reflecting on the importance of CSU’s Super Sunday, what came to mind was an experience I had meeting an African American great-grandmother who introduced me to her 8-year-old great-grandson that she and her husband were raising. She had heard my message about the increasing value of a college degree and the commitment

of the CSU system to access and opportunity. She wanted reassurance that if her great-grandson continued to excel in school, he might one day achieve his dream of becoming an astronaut. She also wanted advice on courses he should take to prepare him for college. She and her husband were in their 70s and had few resources but were trying to set Continued on page A2

Dr. Soraya M. Coley (Courtesy Photo)

PG&E’s Grant to California Black Media

By Tony Khing California Black Media SACRAMENTO -- On Feb. 22, PG&E presented a $53,000 grant to California Black Media to help their efforts in supporting major African-American news outlets within the company’s service area. The endowment was given during a multicultural media event at The California Endowment co-hosted by PG&E and CBM with eight African-American print and broadcast organizations.

“At PG&E, we work hard to support the African-American community all year, but February is a special month because it’s a formal acknowledgement of many unsung African-American heroes who’ve made significant contributions in history. The African-American press is a vital resource in the African- American community. We’re

Texas Woman Defecates in Pants to Hide Drugs

CORSICANA, Texas (AP) _ Police say a Texas woman attempted to hide evidence during an arrest by defecating in her pants and using the feces to conceal drugs.

Officers in Corsicana, about 55 miles (88 kilometers ) south of Dallas, were investigating a report of a theft at a grocery store on Wednesday when they at-

FREE!

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Los Angeles Rams Host Cheerleader 2018 Auditions Candidates May Register through March 8th at

OKC’s Paul George defends Cleveland’s LeBron James on the post in a 2017 NBA game. (thesportingnews.com courtesy photo)

NBA Free Agency

By Cameron Buford Whatsgoodinsports.com Even though the NBA Finals were somewhat anti-climactic, the rest of the playoffs were fantastic! Shortly after the Finals, the NBA re-captured the attention of America with their annual Draft. The draft coupled with the subsequent Free Agency period gives teams an opportunity to add strategic personnel or change the entire face of their team.

Trades in addition to free agency and the draft is another way teams are able improve their squads for the upcoming season.

Where the draft will allow a team to draft young players into the NBA, trades and free agency allows teams to sign experienced veterans on their team. These signings, trades or signing free agents, can often yield immediate results for teams, as they are bringing in players with previous NBA experience.

Heading the list of this year’s premium crop of free agents is arguably the game’s best player, Cleveland Cavaliers LeBron James. Listed below the leagues’ top free agents that many teams would be interested in: Kevin Durant- Golden State Warriors

Paul George- Oklahoma City Thunder Chris Paul- Houston Rockets DeMarcus Cousins- New Orleans Pelicans Clint Capela- Houston Rockets DeAndre Jordan- Los Angeles Clippers Aaron Gordon- Orlando Magic Julius Randle- Los Angeles Lakers Jabari Parker- Milwaukee Bucks Kawhi Leonard- San Antonio Spurs Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles no longer must worry about that self-imposed ultimatum to bring in a top notch frees agent, he imposed upon himself. By signing LeBron James, the 6’8” Forward who averaged 27 points per game (ppg.), 9 Rebounds (rebs.), 9 assists (apg.) last season, Lakers put themselves in position to become an immediate playoff contender. It’s likely James will attract some of the leagues top talent, seeing as he has played in 8 consecutive NBA Finals. As evident with the signing of 2-time Champion Center Javale McGee and former Indiana Pacers Guard Lance Stephenson.

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Entertainment

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER A5

Hip-Hop Legend Chuck D Praises NNPA’s Black Voter Drive; Criticizes Mainstream Media’s Coverage of XXXTentacion

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Contributor To many hip-hop fans, historians and to his peers, Chuck D is considered one of the most influential lyricists in contemporary music.

In describing the Queens, New York City-born artist in the biography pages of his new book, “Chuck D Presents This Day in Rap and Hip-Hop History,” the publisher notes that Chuck D helped paved the way for political, social, and culturally conscious hip-hop, both as a solo artist and as the leader of the ground-

breaking group, Public Enemy.

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with NNPA Newswire, the legend, whose given name is Douglas Ridenhour, addressed issues concerning Black America, including President Donald Trump, the importance of voting, and the need for the Black Press to reach even further around the globe.

“The state of Black America is always going to be a truncated state, if we don’t expand to where we are in the world,” said Chuck D, who just kicked off the wildly successful Prophets of Rage tour with Cypress Hill and Rage Against the Machine.

To date, the concert tour reportedly has drawn more than 3.1 million fans in over 27 countries.

“If [Black people] are going to rely on the United States of America to come around and give us answers, then we don’t understand that we’re all over the world, the majority…then we are doomed to be slaves in this country forever,” Chuck D said.

“You’ve got to fight to get out of the box; to achieve in the United States of America was never going to be an easy ride for Black people, so we shouldn’t cut ourselves off from those who look like us in this 21st century.”

Public Enemy founder and Hip-hop legend Chuck D says that the Black Press must get ahead of the curve and continue its global outreach efforts. Chuck D in Gothenburg, Sweden.

(Kim Metso/Wikimedia Commons)

In an era where new and upcoming hip-hop stars like Migos and Cardi B. are leaders, Chuck D remains universally revered.

His Public Enemy albums remain among the most criticallyacclaimed works in rap music, including “It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back” and “Fear of a Black Planet.”

Earlier this year, a writer for GQ Magazine noted that not only is he one of the greatest and most influential MCs in rap’s history, Chuck D is also blessed with the sort of encyclopedic knowledge and staggering recall that places him among the genre’s foremost historians and custodians.

“Chuck was there, and he got receipts,” the writer said.

Chuck D said that Black America should have done more to embrace President Barack Obama and realize his limitations.

“President Obama was a statement to the world, a gateway to the world and an introduction to understanding what’s in the world for us,” Chuck D said.

Chuck D continued: “He was not there so that we could simply stay in America and get answers, when the next guy who comes along is a dysfunctional idiot and everything gets reversed.”

The hip-hop pioneer added that Obama’s presidency gave us a passport to understand where Black people are in the world.

Chuck said that he thinks Black people dropped the ball by not seizing on the opportunity while he was still in the White House.

“Waiting for Obama to do anything for Black people was the biggest fault in my opinion, because he was the president knowing damn well that he couldn’t make ‘the Black move,’” Chuck D said. “I think he gave it his all for eight years and we didn’t do all that we could and, even then, it might have taken 30 years to take advantage of a person like Obama in office; but we only got eight.”

Still, voting is key, Chuck D said, as he applauded the NNPA-led effort to register 5 million, new African American voters this year.

“Voting is as important as washing your tail in the morning,” he said. “Pay attention to the local level and think about the bigger ramifications of not voting.”

Chuck D continued: “You have to tell young people to pay attention at the local level, because when they run past that red light and they get pulled into that kangaroo court, where they want to revoke your license, that’s who you should look at when voting. The literacy of what voting is to our young people is shortsighted and we can do better.”

The recent shooting deaths of rappers XXXTentacion in North Miami, Florida and Jimmy Wapo in Pittsburgh, Penn., are as troublesome as the shooting deaths of his contemporaries, Notorious B.I.G., Jam Master Jay and Tupac, Chuck D said.

The mainstream media must share some of the blame, particularly in the case of XXXTentacion, Chuck D said.

“This is a serious issue. It’s not trivial,” Chuck D said. “I got on the [mainstream] media for pumping this kid up like he was going to die and when he dies, it’s just another headline. What did you do to prevent this?”

Chuck D continued: “When a guy is in that much danger, don’t give him coverage. The more you do that, the more of a target and a death sentence you give him.”

To remain strong and relevant, the hip-hop legend said that the Black Press must get ahead of the curve and continue its global outreach efforts.

“I think being able to be multimedia and create your text into spoken word, where the Black Press does its own podcasts and also visual stories where sight and sound are used is important for the Black Press,” he said. “But also, reaching beyond the border lines. The whole world has something to say and you’ve got to be eloquent in different languages, especially French and Spanish.”

Chuck D continued: “The Black Press must be invested in the continents that want to be invested over here. This is what the Black Press could do; bring the world to your region.”

Joe Jackson Turned his Children Into Stars

By NEKESA MUMBI MOODY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) _ Joe Jackson once had his own dreams of success. He tried to be a boxer and then played guitar with a group called The Falcons. But he realized early on that there was an overwhelming pool of musical talent in his children, particularly a little bright-eyed boy named Michael.

He channeled his ambition through them, creating one of the greatest pop vocal groups, The Jackson Five, and launched the career of one of entertainment's greatest legends in Michael Jackson, as well as another superstar talent, daughter Janet.

Yet the legacy of Jackson, who died Wednesday in Las Vegas at the age of 89, was steeped not only in the brilliant guidance of his children into the world's premiere entertainment dynasty, but the iron fist with which he did it. Michael described beatings with the switch of a tree branch, and a fear so great of his father that he would sometimes vomit at the sight of him. His children called him Joseph _ they weren't allowed to call him by fatherly terms.

“You call me Joseph,”' Janet Jackson recalled her father telling her once when she called him dad. “I'm Joseph to you.”

By the time they were all adults, his children severed professional ties to him, preferring to let others guide the careers he once nurtured.

Still, in times of turmoil, it was Joe that they continued to turn to. When Michael Jackson stood trial on allegations that he sexually abused a child (he was acquitted), it was Joe Jackson who was at his side on most days. Janet Jackson rationalized that her father wanted the best for his children, even if he didn't go about it the right way.

And La Toya Jackson, who once accused her father of physical and sexual abuse, later blamed her abusive former husband for coercing her to say it. In later years, relished her time with her father.

On Wednesday, she delivered a loving tribute to him.

“I will always love you! You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world. I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared,” she wrote on Twitter.

Joseph Walter Jackson was born in Fountain Hill, Arkansas, on July 26, 1928. He was the eldest of four children to a high school teacher and a house wife. When he was 12, his parents split and he moved with his father to Oakland, California. At 18, he moved to Indiana to live near his mother in East Chicago.

It was in Indiana that he met and married Katherine Scruse, with whom he settled in Gary. He worked as a welder and crane operator, sometimes holding as many as three jobs at a time to support his family.

He abandoned his musical ambitions in part because of his burgeoning brood, which would eventually swell to include nine children _ Rebbie, Jackie, Tito, Jermaine, La Toya, Marlon, Michael, Randy and youngest sister Janet _ all living in a threeroom house in Gary. (A 10th child, Brandon, was stillborn.) He kept his guitar _ but made it clear it was off limits to anyone but him.

His children didn't listen. One day, the older brothers broke a string on the beloved guitar, as Michael Jackson described in his autobiography “Moonwalk.” Fearing a beating, Tito Jackson hid in fear, but when his father demanded he show what he could do with the guitar, he did _ and Joe Jackson was awed. And a musical group was born.

Michael joined the group at age 8, and was its showstopper from the beginning. A bundle of energy with a high-pitched voice, amazing dance moves and a smile that wouldn't quit, he quickly became the lead singer. His father invested in professional equipment for the children, booked tour dates and became their manager. That eventually led to a contract with Motown Records for his five oldest boys, a deal that launched them into superstardom with their bubble-gum pop-soul sound.

Years later, he helped maneuver their exit from Motown to Epic Records when he felt that the legendary label was stifling his sons' creativity. They became The Jacksons, with Jermaine staying with Motown and brother Randy joining the group. They eventually wrote their own music, leading to Michael Jackson's growth as a singer-songwriter.

Michael Jackson credited his father with making sure his children weren't cheated by industry vultures, and noted that unlike some child stars, his parents didn't take their children's

But at a price!

FILE - In this Aug. 30, 1993 file photo, members of the Jackson family, from left, Jermaine Jackson, mother Katherine Jackson, Rebbie Jackson, Joe Jackson, foreground right, and Tito Jackson appear at a press conference in Los Angeles to promote their benefit concert. Joe Jackson, the patriarch of America's most famous musical clan has died, says a family source on Wednesday, June 27. He was 89. (AP Photo/Eric Draper, File)

money to enrich themselves.

“I'd say we're among a fortunate few artists who walked away from a childhood in the business with anything substantial _ money, real estate, other investments. My father set all these up for us,” Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography. “But still I don't know him, and that’s sad for a son who hungers to understand his own father. He's still a mystery to me and may always be one.”

The relationship with many of his children never improved.

Janet Jackson said in a CNN interview in 2011 that she rarely spoke to her father, and by adulthood, they had severed ties with Jackson as their manager.

When Michael Jackson died of an overdose of the anesthetic propofol in 2009, he had been estranged from his father, and his bodyguards recall not allowing Joe Jackson in when he attempted to see the superstar at his estate.

Joe was not mentioned in Michael’s will. Jackson only provided for his three children and mother Katherine, who was named as the children's guardian. That led Joe Jackson to wage a fruitless legal war seeking compensation from various entities.

In his own autobiography, Jackson acknowledged being a stern parent, saying he believed it was the only way to prepare his children for the tough world of show business. But he denied many of the claims of physical abuse.

No longer involved in his children's careers, Joseph Jackson launched a boot camp for aspiring hip-hop artists, promoting lyrics without vulgarity and sponsoring competitions for young artists from across the country. He spent most of his time at a home in Las Vegas and traveled the country auditioning talent

for the competition.

“He was never given the credit he deserved,” the Rev. Al Sharpton wrote on Twitter following the death. “He influenced the world of music with the Jackson 5, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson and others. May history correct his legacy.”

Jackson, a green-eyed dandy who wore a pencil-thin mustache and huge diamond pinky ring, faced allegations by his wife of infidelity. She accused him of fathering a child by another woman _ a daughter named Joh'Vonnie Jackson. Katherine filed for divorce twice but never followed through.

“We just let our troubles die out,” Joseph Jackson said in 1988, following a reconciliation. “We survived. We love each other, and we have children. That's why we're together.”

The family also came together in 2010, when Michael's physician, Conrad Murray, stood trial on Michael's overdose death. Joseph, Katherine and several of Michael's siblings watched as Murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter, a verdict that provided some comfort for the family.

While his death drew plenty of tributes, others criticized the Jackson patriarch for his abusive behavior.

“Disgusted by some of the comments I'm reading about my grandpa Joe by those who didn't even know him. Please don't just regurgitate what you were spoon fed by the press,” tweeted Taj Jackson, Tito Jackson's son. “Joe was loved by our ENTIRE family and our hearts are in pain. Let us grieve without the nastiness.”

Joe Jackson is survived by his wife, eight of his children with Katherine, daughter Joh'Vonnie Jackson and more than two dozen grandchildren.

Joe Jackson and Janet Jackson in 1972Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

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A6

THE VALLEY’S NEWS OBSERVER

Thursday, July 5, 2018

Citing Public Safety and Taxpayer’s Financial Interest, Controller Releases Review on City’s Oil & Gas Wells

Kay Coles James, the president of the Heritage Foundation, says every child deserves to get the tools they need to make their dreams come true. (The Heritage Foundation)

Los Angeles - L.A. Controller Ron Galperin today released a review about the more than 1,000 active or idle oil and gas wells within the City of Los Angeles. The Controller’s review touches on three main themes: (1) Protecting Angelenos’ public safety and health, (2) Protecting taxpayers’ financial interests and (3) increasing transparency. The review lays out a plan for officials to take a more proactive, inclusive approach to inspect the 780 active and 287 idle wells while also ensuring total accountability for the 4,063 wells that are plugged and abandoned or buried.

The report, recommendations and a map illustrating all oil and gas wells within the City of Los Angeles, which were provided by the California Department of Conservation, Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources (DOGGR) database as of April 2018, can be found at www.lacontroller.org/oilandgasreview.

“We cannot wait until disaster strikes to take a more wide-ranging look at how we can protect Los Angeles and ensure total accountability for taxpayers.” L.A. Controller Ron Galperin said. “With so many active or idle wells throughout many L.A. neighborhoods, it’s vital that we do everything possible to protect Angelenos’ health and safety, the taxpayers’ financial interests and increase transparency.”

The history of Los Angeles is intertwined with the rise of oil and gas drilling as oil discoveries near present-day Dodger Stadium led to a population boom and production, by 1930, of one-quarter of the world’s oil supply. Even as production tapered off, concerns about drilling remain. Recently, the City demonstrated its commitment to improving local control of oil and gas drilling by appointing a Petroleum Administrator and creating the Office of Petroleum and Natural Gas Administration and Safety in 2016.

That appointment was a good move, but there is more officials can do to consider a more public-health focused path and take a deliberate, data rich approach to protect public safety, establish priorities and make policy decisions that reflect the unique risks associated with oil and gas drilling within our large urbanized City.

“I want to thank Controller Galperin for this comprehensive audit of the City of Los Angeles’ oil and gas drilling sites,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, the City’s Petroleum Administrator. “These findings and recommendations will strengthen our collective progress within the city to modernize, centralize, and provide 21st century oversight of our petroleum administration function.”

In the review, the Controller recommends a slew of changes, including: * Refining the City’s oil and gas well inspection program to enhance interdepartmental collaboration while also implementing a risk-based approach to site evaluation; * Requiring that all well operators obtain, maintain and show proof of adequate insurance coverage; * Building a centralized repository of interagency and interdepartmental information; * Requiring operators of oil and gas drilling sites to provide the City’s Office of Petroleum and Natural Gas Administration and Safety with timely information.

Reform Obama’s School Discipline Policies for Children’s Safety

By Kay Coles James President, The Heritage Foundation I’m sure President Obama’s heart was in the right place.

A few years ago, his Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Justice, studied school discipline data and came to a troubling conclusion: African American students in the 2011-12 school year had been suspended or expelled at a rate three times higher than White students.

This news sent shock waves throughout the community and government. here were already concerns of a “school-to-prison pipeline” that funneled disadvantaged children to jail. Now, there was renewed agreement that things had to change.

And so, in 2014, the Departments of Education and Justice put public schools on notice. If they suspended or expelled students of any racial group more than any other, they could face a federal investigation. In place of discipline to punish bad behavior, they were urged to use positive reinforcement instead.

As the grandmother of five school-age kids, I watched this closely. And as one of the Black students who integrated an allWhite Richmond, Va., school in 1961, I was hopeful.

I hoped this policy would lead to safer schools. I prayed it would help students get a better education. And I felt confident it would open the door to a brighter future for our kids.

But like so many other parents and grandparents, I was wrong.

The federal government’s warning had an immediate impact.

Schools across America quickly changed their discipline policies and reduced their suspension and expulsion rates. In doing so, they avoided the investigation threatened by the President. But at the same time, they put our children at risk.

Today, kids who bully and assault their classmates too often do so without fear of punishment. They know teachers have lost control. And they realize they can get away with behavior that never used to be tolerated.

As a result, when this summer is over, many students will once again face the fear of going back to school. That’s a tragedy!

Schools should be joyous places where learning takes place. That’s what my classmates and I fought for in 1961. And it’s what should be the reality today.

Instead, danger lurks behind schoolhouse doors.

Joevon Smith is a heartbreaking example. A 17-year-old student with special needs who attended Ballou High School in Washington, D.C., Joeven was beaten up in his classroom and sprayed with a chemical. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but never recovered. A few weeks after his brutal assault, Joevon died.

According to media reports, Joevon’s assailants wanted to steal his cell phone. That may be so. But because they were repeat offenders, loosened school discipline policies are also at fault.

That’s the case up the road in Baltimore, too. There, Jared Haga (age 10) and his 12-year-old sister Tamar have been bullied and threatened with violence. Tamar has even been sexually harassed and assaulted. In school!

As chronicled by “The Daily Signal,” Jared and Tamar’s mother tried to get this to stop. But when she complained to the principal, she was told nothing would – or could – be done.

Joevon, Jared, and Tamar aren’t alone. According to numerous reports, public schools are now less orderly and more dangerous. As Walter E. Williams has observed, the policy President Obama put into place has allowed “miscreants and thugs to sabotage the education process.”

Teachers apparently agree. In anonymous surveys, they describe how badly school safety has deteriorated. As one stated, “We have fights here almost every day. The kids walk around and say ‘We can’t get suspended – we don’t care what you say.’”

That sentiment was echoed by another teacher: “Students are yelling, cursing, hitting and screaming at teachers and nothing is being done but teachers are being told to teach and ignore the behaviors. These students know there is nothing a teacher can do.”

This is crazy.

Every child deserves to get the tools they need to make their dreams come true. But if they are too scared to focus, they won’t get them. Many will drop out, limiting their chance to get a job, raise a family, and pursue their life goals.

All because directives from Washington have made school districts fear they’ll be investigated for keeping their classrooms safe.

Joevon back, and Jared and Tamar may never forget the trauma they’ve experienced. But we can take action to fix the mistake that has been made.

For starters, the Education and Justice Departments’ school discipline policy should be rescinded. And if any threats remain, every family should be empowered with school choice so they can choose safer learning options for their children.

I know President Obama meant well, but his administration’s action was wrong. So it’s now time to make things right.

Our children should be at risk no more.

Kay Coles James is the president of The Heritage Foundation.

You can follow Kay on Twitter @KayColesJames.

Tour of Detention Facility, Says ‘It’s a Moral Issue’

By Manny Otiko California Black Media Rev. Shane Harris, a San Diego civil rights activist, is part of a group of clergy who have rallied in support of migrant families being detained at the southern border. Harris staged a protest outside the Otay Mesa Detention Center on Friday. He will conduct a tour of the facility on Wednesday.

Migrants have been coming to the United States, fleeing poverty and violence, for several decades, but the Trump administration recently instituted a new policy that separated parents from their children. About 3,000 families have been affected so far.

Former Immigration and Naturalization Service INS which is now known as ICE agent Damon Alexander said this is not a new issue. He saw the same situation when he was working for the agency in the 1990s. In those days, people were fleeing political violence in Honduras.

“Back then it was the death squads,” he said.

What’s different is the amount of media attention. Alexander also pointed out that if you are fleeing violence you can apply for political asylum, but that depends on the criteria of the country, the attorney general at the time and the president.

Alexander emphasized that it was a crime to enter the country without using legal means. If you do so, you are subject to arrest and could be separated from children, like American citizens who break the law, he said. However, he was surprised that deported migrants were not kept with their children.

According to Harris, this is a moral issue. He said the policy of separating children from their parents was not “biblical.”

“It is biblically and morally wrong,” said Harris.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who spoke forcibly for family separation, has been criticized by his own United Methodist Church, who has accused him of aiding “child abuse.”

Although the Trump administration has backed down and

said it would reunite the families, it hasn’t said how and when it would do this.

Many Americans have been shocked at the administration’s family separation policy, but this isn’t the first time this has happened. In the past, enslaved Africans were sold as property and torn from their children. And during the early part of the 20th century Native Americans children were taken from their families, and placed with white families who gave them Anglo names and forbade them from speaking their languages. (This process was supposed to help them better integrate into society.)

During World War II, Japanese American families were interned in prison camps, because the nation questioned their loyalty. Also, the War on Drugs, which is still on going, separated thousands of black men and women from their children.

Harris added that the treatment of migrants was an issue that should concern the African-American community. The Trump administration has been hostile to minority groups, he said. He added that the administration planned to deport Haitians migrants who had been allowed to stay in the country as part of a refugee program. The Trump administration has announced that Temporary Protected Status designation officially ends in July 2019.

“This administration is rewinding the clock,” he said. “We should stand with them (migrants.)”

Harris thinks Trump implemented the policy because he saw it as an issue Republicans could run on in the 2018 midterm elections. And it seems to be working with hard-core Trump supporters. The New York Times reported 90 percent of Republicans to have a favorable view of Trump.

According to Harris, this can serve as a lesson for liberal Democrats.

“If Democrats want to win in 2018, they need to stop saying ‘I’m surprised,’” said Harris. “He’s (Trump) playing to his base,” said Harris.

Kay Coles James, the president of the Heritage Foundation, says every child deserves to get the tools they need to make their dreams come true. (The Heritage Foundation)

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