Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will. Find out just what people will submit to and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them and these will continue till they have resisted either with words or blows or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance those of whom they suppress. —Fredrick
“He Sure Fought Like Hell for Us”: Californians Gather to Honor Trailblazer Nate Holden
Over two million Black Californians call this state home -- making us the fifth largest Black population in the country. That’s not just a statistic; it’s a statement of power, presence, and potential. Yet, as housing costs soar and our communities shift from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland to inland regions like the Inland Empire and Sacramento, the one constant that remains is this: Black Californians still have the power to shape the political and cultural direction of this state. And in close elections, we are the margin. We are the difference between a win and a loss. The deciders. The protectors. The visionaries. But that power doesn’t mean much if we don’t build the infrastructure to wield it -- and that starts with building the bench. Let me be clear: we have the bench. What we need is investment in that bench.
In counties like Solano, where Black residents make up more than twice the state average, we’ve already shown what’s possible when we show up and lean in. We have a state legislator, two county supervisors, city council members in Fairfield, Vallejo, and Suisun City, school board leaders, and even Black women on the county school board. That is not luck --it’s strategy, commitment, and community organizing in action.
Look at Compton -- a city where Black representation stretches from Congress to the water board, including a full Black city council and school board. That’s what full-spectrum power looks like.
And don’t miss the wins that have come with Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee’s historic victory. Today, we have 10 Black mayors across California -- including in places where Black leadership has never been seen before: San Luis Obispo, Fontana, Lawndale, Carson, Gardena and Long Beach. First Black. First Black woman. First, but never the last. California is currently represented in Congress by three Black women: Maxine Waters
(D-CA-43), a veteran legislator and powerful voice for civil rights; Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37), known for her work on justice reform and equity; and Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12), who succeeded Barbara Lee and brings a legacy of grassroots activism and public transit leadership to Washington.
But let’s not be romantic. We’ve taken some hits too.
We’ve lost mayoral seats in San Francisco and Lemon Grove. We’ve seen recall efforts rise -most recently against Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price and attempts aimed at LA Mayor Karen Bass and Contra Costa DA Diana Becton. This is not coincidence. It’s coordinated backlash. And we cannot let that keep happening. We currently have 313 Black elected officials in the state. Many are at the school and community college board level, but 61 serve on city councils -including in nontraditional cities like Twentynine Palms, Barstow,
Victorville and Indio. The growth is real. And it’s important to note many of these candidates are issue-driven, communityfirst, and less tied to party lines. That’s a paradigm shift worth celebrating.
Over the last five years, we’ve seen a surge in Black attorneys running -- and winning -- judicial seats. In 2024, Los Angeles welcomed five new Black judges, making clear that our presence is expanding into all corners of governance and justice.
California now boasts three Black constitutional officers and 12 Black state legislators -- a historic moment. Black elected officials now serve across 21 counties, with LA County leading the way at 118, nearly 40% of all Black electeds in the state. Alameda, Contra Costa, San Bernardino, Solano, and Riverside counties are right behind.
We’ve had our losses -through term limits, redistricting, and political headwinds -- but
we’ve also had undeniable sparks of hope. And we’ve got a powerhouse bench ready to take the baton and run harder, faster, and further than ever before.
What we need now is sustained, unapologetic investment in that bench. In our talent. In our strategies. In our Black consultants and operatives who know this work inside and out. And let’s not forget the 30+ Black-owned media outlets across the state that are telling our stories, shaping the narrative, and keeping our people informed and activated.
To the donors: Donate to Black candidates.
To the Black leaders: Keep lifting as you climb.
To the Black collectives: Keep meeting so we are ready.
To the voters: Don’t sit this one out.
To the rising stars: Step into your power.
We’ve already made history. Now it’s time to own it. In 2026 and 2028, we need to run the table -- local, county, state, and beyond. We have the numbers, the momentum, and the brilliance. As Black leaders are making their decisions to run, let's go.
Black Political Power is still intact. We’re not just the margin -- we are the movement. And we’re just getting started.
About the Author
Kellie Todd Griffin is the President and CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute, leading efforts to advance Black women and girls. She also founded California’s first Black Women’s Think Tank and owns a public affairs consultancy firm, Crenshaw Chick.
What Happens if You Help an Undocumented Immigrant?
With massive immigration crackdowns and deportations since January, what rights do Americans have to help undocumented immigrants?
By Selen Ozturk
With ramped-up immigration crackdowns and deportations since January, what rights do Americans have to help undocumented immigrants?
The major federal law codifying U.S. provisions concerning this — the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 (INA) — prohibits harboring unauthorized immigrants, but there is no nationwide, Supreme Court consensus as to what harboring means. While the INA defines harboring as actions that “ to substantially facilitate the alien remaining in the United States illegally,” for instance, would this include giving an immigrant
money for a bus to their target city as much as it would include housing them?
“Most of our immigration laws, as we have found brutally up until now, are pretty laissez faire. The fact that we have 11.7 million unauthorized people in the country must mean that we don’t enforce laws so universally. That’s reality. You can’t hide from that,” explained Muzaffar Chishti, senior fellow at the Migration Policy Institute and director of the MPI office at the New York University School of Law, in an interview with American Community Media.
“Different administrations obviously have different attitudes as to what gets you removed,
apprehended, detained and deported from the United States,” he continued. “Under the first Trump administration, Attorney General Sessions made no secret of zero tolerance toward smuggling and harboring people at the border … so there’s an expectation this’ll go up hugely now under Holman.”
Under Sessions, harboringrelated charges filed by the first Trump administration spiked from less than 3,500 in 2015 to approximately 4,500 in 2018 and an all-time high of just under 5,700 in 2019 — a nearly 65% increase over the four years.
“They are going to prosecute more people for harboring, and
LOS ANGELES — Long before Martin Luther King Jr. Day was a national holiday, before California women could secure a home loan on their own, and long before South Los Angeles began to rise from the ashes of the 1992 unrest, Nathaniel “Nate” Holden, a towering figure in state politics, had already planted seeds for a more just and equal California.
On May 29, hundreds of Californians gathered at West Angeles Church of God in Christ to celebrate the life of this pioneering leader, who passed away May 7 at age 95.
More than a memorial, the service became a living testimony to a man whose legislative work and personal mentorship have shaped daily lives of people across the state -- from civil rights protections and cultural revitalization to grassroots activism.
Holden’s own words framed the spirit of the day. In a television interview years ago, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, he replied simply: “He sure fought like hell for us.”
Holden’s trailblazing career included service in the California State Senate and the Los Angeles City Council, where he championed bold causes that are now embedded in the fabric of California life.
He authored the bill establishing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday as a California state holiday -- years before the federal government followed suit. He also passed the Holden Act, which prohibited financial institutions from requiring a male co-signer for women seeking credit, a quiet but powerful stride toward economic equity.
But as Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass reminded mourners, Holden’s impact wasn’t limited to policy.
“He used public office not just for politics -- but for the people,” Bass said. “He fought for things younger generations might find surprising today: ensuring women could get mortgages in their own names, fighting housing discrimination. Nate Holden was always ahead of his time -- and unafraid to lead.”
Bass also recalled his relentless mentorship. “He would call me up, often unprompted, to tell me exactly what I needed to do next. That was Nate Holden -- always watching, always guiding, always fighting for justice,” she said.
Holden’s son, former Assemblymember Chris Holden, who represented a district that included Pasadena, spoke about his father’s lifelong, hands-on approach to service.
“When you brought a problem to him, it became his problem,” the younger Holden said. “And even at 95, he was still writing letters to the President. He couldn’t help it -- service was who he was.” He shared how Holden’s public life was matched by personal conviction: a World War II Army veteran, an aerospace engineer who contributed to America’s early space program, and a mentor to countless leaders.
“He lived a life of purpose and intentionality,” the younger Holden continued. “He planted seeds in good soil -- and his legacy is in the generations that follow.”
Holden’s grandson, also named Nate Holden, reflected on the persistence that defined his grandfather’s life.
“At 16, he was determined to fight for freedom overseas — at a time when he didn’t enjoy full freedoms at home,” his grandson said. “That spirit -- to stand up for what’s right -- stayed with him for life.”
Holden’s commitment to the arts and culture also took center stage at the memorial.
Veteran actor Glynn Turman recalled Holden’s leadership in the fight to save the historic Ebony Showcase Theater in Los Angeles, later renamed the Nate Holden Performing Arts Center -- a beacon for Black artists and cultural pride.
“He knew that art could transform communities,” Turman said. “From rebuilding Crenshaw after the riots to championing the performing arts, Nate was our ‘everything man.’” For many, Holden was more than an elected official -- he was an essential voice in shaping their careers.
Kellie Todd Griffin
Regina B. Wilson, Joe W. Bowers and Tanu Henry | California Black Media
Soloist performing “The Lord’s Prayer” at the Nate Holden Memorial Service, May 29, 2025. Photo by Regina B. Wilson, California Black Media
Thursday, June 5, 2025
SBCUSD Leaders Shine Bright with Top Honors from ACSA Region 12
SBCUSD Superintendent Mauricio Arellano accepts the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 12 Superintendent of the Year Award at the May 19 Spring Awards Dinner. Arellano was one of three SBCUSD administrators to be honored. (Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—
Three distinguished leaders from the San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) have been recognized by the Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Region 12 for their exceptional leadership, commitment to excellence and dedication to advancing equity in education.
Honored on May 19 at the ACSA Region 12 Spring Awards Dinner at the DoubleTree in Ontario were:
Dr. Amy Coker, Director of Elementary Instruction, has been named the ACSA Region 12 Curriculum & Instruction Administrator of the Year.
Dr. Coker’s dedication to elevating academic achievement and supporting innovative instructional practices across SBCUSD elementary schools has made a profound impact on
student success.
Dr. Keishia Handy, Assistant Director of Elementary Instruction, has been honored with the ACSA Region 12 Dr. Margaret B. Hill Social Justice Award. This prestigious award recognizes Dr. Handy’s unwavering advocacy for educational equity, access and justice, continuing the powerful legacy of Dr. Hill, a former SBCUSD principal and Board of Education member.
Superintendent Mauricio Arellano has been selected as the ACSA Region 12 Superintendent of the Year. A San Bernardino native and lifelong champion of student brilliance, Superintendent Arellano was recently named ACSA State Superintendent of the Year, and he was the inaugural recipient of the Dr. Margaret B. Hill Social Justice Award, making his latest
Political Playback: California Capitol News You Might Have Missed
Bo Tefu | California Black Media
New Wealth Report: Black Californians Behind in Retirement Savings, Homeownership Rates
A new report reveals that Black Californians are falling behind in key measures of wealth, including retirement savings and homeownership, raising concerns about longterm economic security and opportunity.
The report, based on U.S. Census data, shows that the typical California household has a net worth of $288,000, which is significantly higher than the national median of $180,000. However, wealth in the state is unequally distributed across racial and ethnic lines. Wealth includes everything a household owns, like a home or retirement account, minus debts such as credit cards or student loans.
“Latino and Black/Other households disproportionately have low wealth, as do those with lower levels of educational attainment,” the report stated.
Despite homeownership being a common path to building wealth in America, Black households
recognition a testament to his continued visionary leadership.
“These honors are a reflection of the extraordinary talent, passion and commitment of our leadership team,” said Board of Education President Mayra Ceballos. “We are proud to have leaders who embody SBCUSD’s core belief that all children are brilliant and deserve the highest quality education.”
About San Bernardino City Unified School District:
The San Bernardino City Unified School District is
California’s ninth-largest school district and is dedicated to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for college, career and life. With a focus on equity, excellence and empowerment, the District serves a diverse student population in the San Bernardino and Highland communities. For more information about SBCUSD, visit www.sbcusd.com and follow the District @SBCityUSD on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube and LinkedIn.
U.S. DOJ Launches Investigation to Protect Girl Athletes in California...continued
girls’ sports and stop anyone -public officials included -- from violating women’s civil rights.”
with similar income, age, and education levels to their White counterparts still lag behind.
The report also shows that the most common assets among California households are checking and savings accounts, retirement accounts, home equity, and vehicle equity. Even though many Black households do own these assets, they do not have enough set aside for emergencies, putting them at risk as they age.
Across ethnic and racial groups, older households are more likely to hold assets and less likely to have debts, especially unsecured debts like credit cards and medical bills.
However, Black and Latino households are also more likely to carry student loan debt than Whites and Asians.
“Three in four households owe some money on unsecured debts,” the report stated, which can make it harder to save or invest.
U.S. DOJ Launches Investigation to Protect Girl Athletes in California
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation into California’s handling of girls’ sports, citing possible violations of Title IX due to a state law that allows students born male to compete on female teams.
On May 28, the DOJ announced that it sent legal notices to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, the Jurupa Unified School District, and the California Interscholastic Federation. The agency will examine whether state and local education and athletic authorities are discriminating based on sex, which would violate federal civil rights law.
The case centers on California’s AB 1266, a state law passed in 2013, that permits
students to join sports teams and use facilities that align with their gender identity. A federal lawsuit filed by female athletes argues that this law harms girls by allowing biologically male students to outcompete them in sports and share private spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms.
“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”
U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli for the Central District of California added, “My office and the rest of the Department of Justice will work tirelessly to protect
The lawsuit, Save Girls’ Sports v. Thurmond, was filed on behalf of two high school athletes, T.S. and K.S., from Martin Luther King High School in Riverside. T.S., a junior and team captain, was removed from the girls’ varsity cross-country team to make room for a biologically male athlete who did not meet
eligibility requirements. T.S. lost her spot at a major meet and missed chances for college recruitment.
The lawsuit also claims school officials violated students’ free speech rights by banning shirts that protested the team change.
The DOJ says the case is part of a national effort to uphold Title IX and ensure fairness for female athletes.
Sen. Kelly Seyarto Gives Colleagues Thumbs Up for Backing His Home Inheritance Bill
Inheriting your family home and worried about immediate taxes? You may no longer have to.
Sen. Kelly Seyarto (R-Murrieta) announced last week that eleven of his bills have passed the California State Senate and are now headed to the Assembly for consideration.
The bills, which aim to improve veterans’ benefits, public safety, tax policy, and local government support, received strong bipartisan backing.
One bill that will impact families is Senate Bill (SB) 284. The legislation clarifies property tax law when siblings inherit a family home. It allows eligible family members to consolidate ownership within one year of inheritance without triggering a property tax reassessment, provided the transfer and the transferee's residence meet specific criteria.
According to Seyarto, SB 284 seeks to protect families from undue tax burdens while preserving valuable assets.
“I’m proud to see these common-sense, solutionsoriented bills advance with strong bipartisan support,” said Seyarto. “I’m grateful to my dedicated team for their hard work and to my Senate colleagues for their partnership. I’m ready to continue working with the Assembly to deliver meaningful results for our 32nd District and the State of California.”
The other bills he lauded are:
New Black Equity Collective Survey Reveals Economic Might of California’s Black-Led Nonprofits
A new report by the Black Equity Collective (BEC), in partnership with Nonprofit Finance Fund (NFF), highlights the powerful role Black-led nonprofits play in California’s economy and communities. The report, California Black-led Organizations: Strengthening California’s Economy and Communities, draws from a survey of 217 Black-led organizations across the state.
The findings show Black-led nonprofits employ more than 4,000 people and paid over $335 million in salaries during 2023. These organizations also contributed $22 million in payroll taxes, making them key economic drivers.
“Black-led nonprofits are not only providing essential services in areas such as health, safety, and social justice. They are also creating community wealth and economic resilience,” said Kaci Patterson, founder of Black Equity Collective. “This report makes it clear: BLOs are valuable contributors to California’s economy and deserve equitable investment and support.”
Axe
● SB 56, which ensures that disability payments for disabled veterans are not counted when deciding if they qualify for a property tax exclusion.
● SB 67, which protects Cal Grant access for children of active-duty military, even if they finish high school in another state.
● SB 70, which raises the contract limit for small businesses run by disabled veterans and adjusts it for inflation.
● SB 74, which creates the Infrastructure Gap Fund to help cities and counties complete projects like fire stations, schools, and roads.
● SB 76, which stops new car owners from being forced to pay registration debts left by the previous owner.
● SB 87, which extends tax breaks for fundraising efforts by all-volunteer fire departments.
● SB 233, which requires earlier talks between the state and local governments about housing needs.
● SB 255, which makes counties notify homeowners when deeds or other legal property documents are recorded.
● SB 385, which updates education requirements and timelines for peace officers.
Despite their impact, 80% of these nonprofits report staff shortages, limiting their ability to meet community needs. The organizations focus on critical issues like health services, violence prevention, community safety, policy change, and racial justice.
Annie Chang, Vice President of Community Engagement at Nonprofit Finance Fund, emphasized the importance of the report’s data. “We hope this data will drive deeper collaboration and investment that centers equity, trust, and accountability,” she said.
BEC is calling on funders, policymakers, and stakeholders to recognize the value of Blackled nonprofits and to invest in their growth through fair and lasting funding practices.
“Funders hold an important role in sustaining and supporting the impactful work of our organizations,” Patterson added, “and amplifying the economic impact they can have on their communities as job creators and service providers.”
the Tax: Cali’s Marijuana Store Owners Say New Increase Will Break Them
Edward Henderson | California Black Media
Marijuana dispensary located in San Bernardino County, January 9, 2022. Photo by Regina B. Wilson, California Black Media
Licensed marijuana store owners across California are backing a bill making its way through the State Legislature.
Authored by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Assembly Bill (AB) 564 seeks to suspend a pending tax increase on cannabis from 15% to 19%, which is scheduled to take effect on July 1.
“If we continue to pile on more taxes and fees onto our struggling small cannabis businesses, California’s cannabis culture is under serious threat of extinction,” Haney said in a press release. “Instead, we should be looking at how we can support this industry which has barely been given a chance to survive after legalization. If we want to support our cannabis industry that drives millions of visitors to California every year, adding more costs makes absolutely no sense.”
Across California, illicit cannabis sales account for an estimated 60 percent of the
state’s overall marijuana market, putting legal operators at a clear disadvantage and giving other states an opportunity take the lead in a market that is expected to grow to $76 billion in annual revenue nationwide by 2030. Black cannabis store owners account for about 4% of all store owners, according to Cannaclusive, an L.A. based marketing and advocacy group that represents the interests of minority marijuana store owners In Los Angeles, for example, the United Cannabis Business Association recently polled 245 retailers and found that 70% of them said they were at risk of going out of business.
Overall, conditions have become so difficult in California that the number of inactive and surrendered pot licenses in the state recently surpassed the number of active ones.
The demographic most disproportionately impacted by the red tape and high taxes surrounding the cannabis industry are Black business owners.
In 2017, Los Angeles politicians painted an optimistic picture of a social equity program aimed at creating opportunities for disadvantaged business owners in the cannabis space (race-based programs are illegal under California law). Local
(L-R) Assistant Director of Elementary
Instruction Dr. Keishia Handy, Superintendent Mauricio Arellano and Director of Elementary Instruction Dr. Amy Coker celebrate their ACSA Awards at the May 19 awards dinner.
(Photo by Corina Borsuk and provided courtesy of SBCUSD)
THE SAN BERNARDINO AMERICAN NEWS - GOVERNMENT/BUSINESS/TECHNOLOGY
Billions Ripped from Minority-Owned Firms Under Trump
By Stacy M. Brown
The Trump administration is dismantling the very programs created to correct generations of systemic racism and economic exclusion—programs that helped level the playing field for Black, Latino, Indigenous, and women entrepreneurs. In a series of targeted assaults, Trump has moved to destroy the federal government’s most effective tools for uplifting historically disadvantaged communities, threatening billions of dollars and tens of thousands of jobs. In the most devastating move yet, Trump’s Justice Department filed to end the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program, a nearly $37 billion affirmative action initiative that for decades guaranteed at least 10 percent of federal transportation contracts would go to minorityand women-owned firms. The administration now claims the DBE program violates the Constitution’s equal protection clause, siding with two Whiteowned companies that sued because they didn’t want to compete with firms led by people of color. If approved, the settlement would kill the DBE’s founding mission—to address the entrenched discrimination that has locked out marginalized groups from federal contracting. The Biden administration previously defended the program, recognizing that raceneutral alternatives alone cannot erase centuries of inequality. But Trump’s team reversed course, citing the Supreme Court’s ban on race-conscious college admissions to justify gutting one of the country’s last-standing economic justice efforts. “This is a direct attack on Black and brown businesses,” said Brooke Menschel of Democracy Forward. “Without these programs, thousands of entrepreneurs will be pushed out of the economy and back to the margins.”
At the same time, Trump signed an executive order aimed at neutralizing the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA)—the only federal agency solely dedicated to
supporting minority-owned businesses. Under President Biden, the MBDA helped secure over $3.2 billion in contracts and $1.6 billion in capital for entrepreneurs of color, creating or preserving more than 23,000 jobs. Trump’s action, combined with a recent court ruling that barred the MBDA from considering race in program eligibility, threatens to erase those gains. “These actions are designed to kill progress,” said Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee. “This isn’t just neglect—it’s sabotage.”
Even as Trump claims to champion small business, his policies have delivered devastating blows to those most in need. A Kentucky judge previously issued an injunction weakening the DBE program, and now Trump’s administration is making that decision permanent. Meanwhile, courts and rightwing organizations aligned with Trump are challenging the very legality of race-conscious aid, using the courts to do what Congress would never allow— turn back the clock on civil rights. In response, a coalition of minority- and women-owned business groups successfully petitioned the court to intervene. Their warning is blunt: without DBE and MBDA protections, many minority-owned firms will collapse.
“Stripping away these programs isn’t race-neutral—it’s racist,” said attorney Douglas McSwain. “It punishes the very people who’ve been denied opportunity for generations.”
The impact is already being felt. Businesses that relied on the DBE program to enter a closed federal market are now bracing for a shutdown. Entrepreneurs who once had a path to growth and generational wealth are being told they no longer belong. “This administration isn’t just ignoring inequality—it’s weaponizing policy to deepen it,” said Sarah von der Lippe of the Minority Business Enterprise Legal Defense and Education Fund. “And it’s communities of color who will pay the price.”
Capitol Rioter Rejects Trump Pardon in Unprecedented Rejection of Jan. 6 Clemency
By Stacy M. Brown
In a dramatic and historic repudiation of Donald Trump’s mass pardons for Capitol rioters, one of the former president’s supporters has taken the extraordinary step of formally refusing his grant of clemency.
Pamela Hemphill, a 71-year-old Idaho woman and one of more than 1,500 people pardoned by Trump earlier this year for their roles in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, has asked the Department of Justice to reject the clemency extended to her on Jan. 20 — the day Trump returned to the White House.
Capitol Rioter Rejects Trump Pardon in Unprecedented Rejection of Jan. 6 Clemency...continued
to encourage participation. “On December 28, 2020, Hemphill posted encouragement to go to Washington, D.C. for January 6, saying ‘it’s a WAR!’” prosecutors wrote. “On January 1, 2021, she posted a message ‘on my way to Washington DC January 6th.’” Hemphill, who acknowledged guilt and accepted the consequences of her actions, has now turned to her Republican senator, James Risch of Idaho, to ensure the federal government honors her rejection of the pardon. In a letter dated April 2, the Office of the Pardon Attorney confirmed to Sen. Risch that Hemphill’s “non-acceptance is noted,” and that no formal pardon certificate would be issued.
“The Office of U.S. Senator Jim Risch regularly assists constituents with matters
pertaining to federal agencies or programs,” a spokesperson for Sen. Risch stated. “Due to privacy concerns, we cannot disclose details about individual cases.” Hemphill said she could not reconcile accepting clemency with her understanding of right and wrong. “How could you sleep at night taking a pardon when you know you were guilty? You know that everybody there was guilty. I couldn’t live with myself. I have to be right with me. And with God,” she said. She said she is bracing for the possibility of retaliation from Trump, whom she once fervently supported. “Trump will probably say that ungrateful lady, I’m going to make sure she gets back on probation and give her the worst you can give her. I won’t be surprised,” she said.
Court checks White House on tariffs
By April Ryan
The trade wars ignited by the 47th U.S. president’s imposition of widespread tariffs, including tariffs on China that rose to 145 percent at one point, has fostered erratic financial markets and broad economic uncertainty among businesses and consumers. Credit: Unsplash / Markus Winkler
The Trump White House vows to appeal the threejudge panel of the United States Court of International Trade’s ruling that the proposed presidential tariffs exceed his legal authority. The May 28 ruling means neither President Trump nor his administration can arbitrarily invoke tariffs under
the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977.
“The ruling by the U.S. Court of International Trade is so wrong, and so political! Hopefully, the Supreme Court will reverse this horrible, Country threatening decision, QUICKLY and DECISIVELY,” the 47th president wrote on his Truth Social platform on May 29.
The three judges appointed by former Presidents Reagan, Obama and Trump unanimously made the decision. The courts essentially deemed the president’s tariff declaration invalid.
Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, of Texas, says President Trump “has a lot of emergencies in his mind for sure.” However, Crockett emphasized that this nation is
continued in next 2 columns
Axe the Tax: Cali’s Marijuana Store Owners Say New Increase Will Break Them...continued from page 2
governments across the state have launched social equity programs, and the state’s Department of Cannabis Control has awarded nearly $100 million to local governments with social equity programs to help get cannabis business owners fully permitted. The city of Los Angeles was awarded $22.3 million, more than any other local government. However, even this state funding has become a local controversy.
Several Black business owners were present at the latest L.A. Cannabis Regulation Commission meeting to voice their concerns.
“I'm actually fighting back the tears because I actually believed in this program,” said Osajefu Oyadeye, a licensed business owner from Los Angeles, said at the meeting.
Her refusal, a rare and powerful act of public accountability, represents perhaps the most pointed backlash yet from within the convicted Jan. 6 ranks. “The pardons just contribute to their narrative, which is all lies, propaganda. We were guilty, period,” Hemphill told CBS News. “They are using January 6 to just continue Trump’s narrative that the Justice Department was weaponized. They were not.” Hemphill, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unlawful parading in the Capitol and was sentenced in 2022 to three years of probation, played an active role in rallying others to join the riot. Prosecutors said she was at the front lines during confrontations with U.S. Capitol Police and had used her platform
“I wanted this industry to thrive in this city where I've been a resident all my life. If the social equity program isn’t reparations for the war that was fought against me and those like me in my community, then what is it?” Oyadeye continued.
Asia Allen has been in business four years and while her dispensary makes $120,000 a month, after taxes, fees and payroll she is only left with a $2,000 profit. This is before purchasing product to stock the dispensary, she said.
“I’m so busy trying to keep up with taxes, and payroll and rent, and pay my people, I can’t survive like this. We can’t survive like this. We need your help,” Allen told the council.
As cannabis business owners California seek policy support from Sacramento to find a way forward, opposition to Haney’s bill continues to gather. Organizations like Youth Forward, Child Action Inc. and Indigenous Justice
Court checks White House on tariffs ...continued
not in a state of emergency to justify tariffs under the 1977 law. “That act declared we are under siege. We are not at war,” assured Crockett.
Congress, which typically holds the purse strings under the Constitution, regulates import commerce with foreign nations, but Trump has boldly claimed the right to bypass that branch of government. His erratic policies, however, have created unstable financial markets, uncertainty among businesses and fears of escalating consumer prices.
Michigan Democratic Congresswoman Debbie Dingle, however, believes the court’s decision is “a win for consumers. It will not immediately increase costs in stores, which is what I’m worried about.”
At the White House podium this week, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said “the courts should have no role here. There is a troubling and dangerous trend of unelected judges inserting themselves into the presidential decision-making process.”
However, the ruling temporarily alleviates growing concerns about the cost of imports, from food to cars and more. On May 29, Dingle told Black Press USA in Mackinac, Michigan, at the Detroit Regional Chamber of Congress Meeting, “Every industry needs certainty, and they’re all dealing with a lot of uncertainty. The autos don’t want to be a ping pong ball. They’re trying to keep their heads down and figure it out. So what we need for the industry and other companies is certainty.”
The Trump administration has already filed motions to change the decision. And, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on May 29 ruled that the administration can temporarily continue collecting the tariffs under the emergency powers law while it appeals the trade court’s decision.
Meanwhile, Crockett, a lawyer turned politician, says she’s “excited that some branch of government put a check on the executive.”
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What Happens if You Help an Undocumented Immigrant?...continued from page 1 one reason why is that their goal of mass deportation of 1 million people a year is unlikely to materialize. They’re not even outperforming Biden … and now they’re facing lawsuits and uncooperative judges,” said Chishti.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) report published in mid-March shows that Trump’s daily removals from January 26 through March 8, 2025 averaged 661 — 10.9% lower than Biden’s daily average of 742 for 2024.
say suspending the tax would break promises made to the Californians they represent who were ensured by policymakers that a portion of the money raised from the sale of marijuana would be invested into health and social programs.
Even Getting it Right from the Start -- an organization that bills itself as being devoted to developing “optimal cannabis policy -- opposes AB 564. That group argues that eliminating the tax would favor the cannabis industry over the needs of children.
“California’s cannabis taxes are far lower than states like Washington and fund critical services for kids, the environment, and public safety,” said Dr. Lynn Silver, a pediatrician and senior advisor at Getting it Right from the Start, in a press release. “Proposition 64 promised to invest in healthier communities. With a significant budget deficit and federal funding for children and environmental programs dwindling, now is the time to protect, not slash, these critical investments.”
Last week, AB 564 was ordered to a third reading in the Assembly Appropriations Committee after committee members voted 13-0 to approve it with amendments.
On May 5, the Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee voted 6-0 to advance the bill with one member counted as a no-vote.
Oyadeye says the state and local governments benefit by supporting struggling marijuana dispensary business owners.
“You're pushing the people who want to shop legally into the illicit market. The higher the taxes are, the more the customers will go to the illicit market,” he stated.
As of May, Trump’s use of executive power in areas including immigrant extraditions, legal status revocations, DEI bans and press restrictions has spawned at least 328 lawsuits nationwide.
“So if the numbers are not going to come from deportation, they want people to self deport … through fear: ‘My God, if I’m harboring my partner or my employee or my neighbor, would I become the target?’” Chishti said. “But as to what harboring actually means, the case law is all over the place.”
While some courts, like the Third Circuit, define harboring as an illegal offense broadly as “providing shelter, transportation, direction about how to obtain false documentation, or warnings about impending investigations that facilitates a person’s continuing illegal presence in the United States,” others like the Sixth and Ninth Circuits define it more restrictedly as literally shielding or affording shelter to an immigrant.
“If it’s a situation like your partner just staying with you or you transporting them somewhere already in the country, it’s unlikely to lead to a charge. But if you take them over the border, or to a facility to get a fake green card, or if ICE shows up and you prevent them from being detected, that would rise to harboring,” explained Chishti.
As for work, “if you are employing someone without knowing that they’re unauthorized, that would not be harboring,” he continued.
“But if you’re found knowingly hiding it … or if you help them fill an I-9 form when they show you false documents, that’s harboring, because you’re directly facilitating the unlawful
stay of the person in the country.” He noted that “At the end of the day, it’s really going to be determined by how much resources each jurisdiction has in prosecuting these people. It’s an opportunity cost: If they prosecute someone who gives a lift to someone, what are they not prosecuting?”
In late May, for instance, a Harris County, Texas sheriff said a bill requiring state sheriffs to help ICE enforcement would cost “well over $1 million.”
“If you see a sick person by the road, do you have an obligation to ask them first whether they’re authorized?” asked Chishti. “One way to put this is whether being a good Samaritan is being criminalized.”
In 2018, under the first Trump administration, a college teacher and humanitarian volunteer was arrested and charged with two counts of felony harboring and one count of conspiracy for giving food, water and shelter to two unauthorized migrants along the border.
He was acquitted after challenging what he called the government’s “attempt to criminalize basic human kindness” and invoking the Religious Freedom Restoration Act 1993, on the grounds that his religious beliefs motivated him to help the migrants.
In 2019, a Texas city attorney was arrested and detained for stopping to phone for medical attention for three dehydrated young migrants limping along a roadside.
“Reasons for a ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy in institutional behavior are becoming more prevalent,” said Chishti. “In schools, this looks like teachers wanting parents not to tell them anything about their kids. It’s about whether telling the hospital essential information about you creates an obligation to call ICE, because if they don’t, they could be accused of harboring. It looks like not showing up to your own court hearing.”
“If there is a need to know less and less, you can imagine what less engagement in the lives of those most vulnerable does to the social fabric,” he added. “The chilling effect of this, at some level, is much longer-lasting than actual enforcement.”
Donald Trump
Pamela Hemphill
American Girl Tea Party for the Whole Family
“This year’s American Girl Tea Party will delight everyone from toddlers to grandparents,” says San Bernardino City Library Foundation Board president Cheryl Brown.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA.
— Toddlers, teens, parents, and grandparents are all invited to attend this year’s American Girl Tea Party on Saturday, June 14, from 10:00 am to 2 00 pm at the Dr. Mildred Dalton Henry Elementary School, which is hosting a American Girl Tea Party sponsored by the San Bernardino City Library Foundation. Board president and former California Assemblymember Cheryl Brown began organizing the event on behalf of the Foundation five years ago. Cheryl, Board member Debra Fields, and a team of supporters brought together families for the event. “This year’s American Girl tea party will delight toddlers to grandparents,” said Brown.
American Girl dolls are teen favorites, but very expensive to buy. So, Brown brought the idea to the library foundation board that these dolls, along with the life story books accompanying them, be made available for checkout at the downtown library. The board approved her initiative, and the library now has many dolls that youngsters can borrow.
San Bernardino City Unified School District Superintendent Maurice Arellano, school Principal Dr. Chris Tickell, library foundation President Mary Kay
DeCrescenzo, library Executive Director Ed Erjavec, along with Denneigh Denton and Lynn Summers from the University of California Master Gardeners and Master Food Preservers, and student volunteers from Arroyo Valley High School combined forces to support the event.
Dr. Tickell has made this his signature event and hosts it annually. This is the third year that the tea was held at the school.
The Master Gardeners and Preservers will provide educational content as the attendees learn about growing microgreens and taking home a container of seeds to grow.
Past participants included girls and boys, old and young, as the event showcases educational content meant for everyone, not just young ladies. Entertainment included an engaging storyteller, tabletop craft games, and more.
There will be several door prizes. “Last year, many of the children went home with a gift,” said Brown. “We gave away nine large dolls, six mini dolls, and several sticker books.”
For more information, call (909) 381-8201 or go to Eventbrite and look for American Girl Tea Party, or click here https://bit.ly/4iEGKDu
AfroPoP is back this June: Season 17 opens with doc 'Mother Suriname' on Mon., June 9
Mother Suriname, season 17 premiere of AfroPoP: The Ultimate Cultural Exchange (Credit: From the personal collection of Tessa Leuwsha)
Through narration and archival footage, the documentary Mother Suriname, from director Tessa Leuwsha, details the complex and often overlooked history of the former Dutch colony through the story of Leuwsha’s grandmother, Fancelyne Cummings, and other Surinamese women like her. Premiering on June 9, Mother Suriname will be followed by The Changing Same by Michèle Stephenson and Joe Brewster. A documentary short, The Changing Same captures the story of Marianna, Florida resident and poet L. Lamar Wilson as he mounts a marathon run in an attempt to call further attention to a 1934 lynching of a Black farmhand named Claude Neal. Mother Suriname launches a new and exciting season of
Thursday, June 5, 2025
“He Sure Fought Like Hell for Us”: Californians Gather to Honor Trailblazer Nate Holden... continued from page 1
L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn described him as a personal mentor, often affectionately calling him “Uncle Nate.”
“He taught me: Don’t just show up -- speak up, do your homework, make things happen,” Hahn said.
She fondly remembered late-night phone calls from Holden, who would advise -- or sometimes command -- her on political strategy.
“He never stopped caring, or calling,” Hahn laughed. “Even when I redistricted out of his neighborhood, he would still call to make sure I was taking care of the people there.”
Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43) offered some of the day’s most personal reflections, calling Holden an uncompromising truth-teller.
“Whether people liked it or not, Nate Holden would stand at that podium and tell the truth,” Waters said. “That’s what made him a legend. He never backed down from a fight.”
She also recalled Holden’s unmatched persistence, noting
his multiple runs for office before achieving success — a reminder of his unshakable belief in the causes he fought for.
His imprint is seen not only in California’s legal code, or in the performing arts center that bears his name, but in some of the everyday freedoms Californians now enjoy.
“He fought like hell for us,” Chris Holden reminded those gathered. “And now, it’s on us to carry that legacy forward.”
Holden is survived by his children -- Chris, Reginald, and Melissa Holden -- along with grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.
“My dad was committed to public service like no one I’ve ever known. Even at 95, he was still writing letters to the President, telling him what needed to be done,” the younger Holden added. “He believed, as scripture teaches, that when you plant seeds in good soil, they will bear fruit. My father made sure his seeds were planted in good soil -- and today, we see the impact of his life all around us.”
AfroPoP which will include documentary and narrative films. This season’s lineup also includes Neptune Frost, an Afrofuturistic musical co-directed by actorpoet-musician Saul Williams (who can currently be seen in the blockbuster Sinners) and Anisia Uzeyman; Tongo Saa (Rising Up at Night), an awardwinning documentary by Nelson Makengo about residents in the Democratic Republic of Congo fighting to survive amidst the uneven distribution of electricity; and a special encore presentation of filmmaker Luchina Fisher’s Mama Gloria, a powerful documentary tracing the trailblazing life of transgender activist Gloria Allen. Check out the season trailer here: https://youtu.be/ KFILKjoU-VU.
Riverside, CA, June 3rd, 2025—Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino (FARSB) is looking to its community members to advocate for the upcoming CalFood budget, which asks for a budget of $60 million to maintain and expand our current food system at a time when the cost of living has strained family budgets, raising food insecurity in the Inland Empire (IE) region. They have now until June 15 (when the Legislature has to pass their budget), and so the next couple of weeks are incredibly important.
“CalFood has allowed FARSB to offer more fresh, nutritious food to the families we serve, something that’s often out of reach for those living paycheck to paycheck. Without this support, the cost would have made it nearly impossible for us to do this work at the same magnitude,”
FARSB Advocates for CalFood Support Amid Potential Funding Cuts...continued
back on fresh, nutritious produce at a time when demand is already high. We are joining food banks across California in urging the Governor to include $60 million in ongoing funding for CalFood in the 2025–2026 state budget.
What You Can Do: · Take 1 minute to use the link below to send an email to the Governor and let him know you support continued investment in CalFood. You can also personalize your message by sharing why this issue matters to you, your family, or your community. https://act.
cafoodbanks.org/calfood · Share the above link with your friends and family and encourage them to also send an email. · Help us bridge the gap to offset funding cuts and shortages by becoming a monthly donor: https://www.feedingamericaie. org/meals-for-many
Together, we can ensure that no family has to wonder where their next meal will come from! For more information about FARSB’s hunger-relief programs, please visit: FeedingIE.org/ Programs
One Body … One Drum
Tracy Howe
A month ago, the US government announced they would enable Oak Flat to be transferred to Resolution Copper, a foreign owned mining company. The required environmental impact study would be released. Resolution Copper quickly notified the San Carlos Apache tribe they intended to start preliminary work within weeks. This was just one event in what has been a two-decade struggle to save Oak Flat from complete and utter destruction.
Oak Flat is a place where Western Apaches and other Native peoples have gathered since time immemorial for sacred religious ceremonies that cannot take place anywhere else. Known in Apache as Chi’chil Biłdagoteel, Oak Flat is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and has been protected from mining and other harmful practices for seventy years.
A hearing for an injunction to stop Resolution Copper from moving forward while a case in the Supreme Court was still pending was filed in a federal court and a hearing was set within a week. When prospectors turned their attention to Oak Flat, political advocacy was effective in protecting the Sacred Land. Only after the land was transferred through a midnight rider slid into a “must-pass” defense bill in 2014 did Apache Stronghold start fighting on the grounds of religious freedom.
other specific sacred lands, there is no spirituality and no religion. To destroy Oak Flat, the sacred land where Usen (God) lives, would be to Muslims as if Mecca itself were destroyed, a specific holy site to which all Muslims are called to physically pilgrimage once over the course of their life. It would be for Hindus to destroy the Ganges river, which is a divine entity who cleanses and purifies. It would be to Christians as if the sacraments themselves were destroyed, gifts given freely from God, through which we know and experience God’s grace and love, baptism and holy communion, taken forever.
This is why I landed on this famous text in 1 Corinthians. The eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you, so I will cut you off and sell you. The feet cannot decide that the head is worth money and so cut it off and sell it. If we do this, the whole body dies.
said Carolyn Fajardo, CEO of Feeding America Riverside | San Bernardino. “Just as importantly, the program uplifts California’s agricultural workers by helping ensure they earn a livable wage, which is a critical part of breaking the cycle of need,” she added. CalFood is a vital antihunger program that millions of California families rely on to put food on the table. It allows food banks to purchase Californiagrown foods, supporting local farmers and food producers, and ensuring communities have access to nutritious, culturally relevant options. But this critical program is at risk, with over $50 million in annual funding set to expire at the end of June 2025. Without sustained funding, food banks and pantries across the state will be forced to cut
As a faith leader fighting to protect Oak Flat in solidarity with Apache Stronghold, as well as a person who depends on clean air and water in southern Arizona, I and others were asked what Bible verses we would use in defense of Oak Flat. A group of us quickly wrote down hundreds of passages that instruct and admonish people of faith to care for creation and protect life and that which sustains life, but for me I kept falling back on 1 Corinthians 12:12–27. Resolution Copper was arguing that the complete and utter destruction of Oak Flat would not harm Apache religion or prevent them from practicing their religion. Their argument was based on capitalist frameworks where place and land is a commodity. If this church building disappears, get another one.
But to assert that the destruction of Oak Flat is of no spiritual or religious consequence is to divorce Spirit from what lives and from what fills life and religion with power.
While dictionary definitions of “spirit” and “spiritual” will center immaterial concepts of soul, spirituality and religion are the relationships we live and practice. The spirituality and religion we practice are the connections and relationships we make and sustain from one living thing to another. To make that connection living is the spirituality. Without connection, without relationality of specific living beings, the relationality of Apache People to Oak Flat and
We who have been socialized to believe place is a commodity suffer spiritual malformation. We have divorced Spirit from what lives. All land is sacred and non-disposable because it is part of an ecosystem that we are interconnected with. While I started writing this piece, the world ending news broke that the Supreme Court will not intervene to protect Oak Flat from complete and utter destruction. There are no words. The United Church of Christ submitted an Amicus Brief in support of Apache Stronghold and the Supreme Court case. Thousands have prayed and we will continue. I lament this Witness For Justice piece must end in such a way. I leave the words of a song I wrote for this movement as a continuing prayer.
One Drum, One Prayer, One Circle to survive To protect our mother earth and stop the shattering of life
May the land be yours to say Here my people dream May the land keep your children safe And hold your ceremonies And when evil gathers ‘round May those against you fall
And every good person hear your call to…
One Drum, One Prayer, One Circle to survive
To protect our mother earth and stop the shattering of life
May the land be yours to say Here my people live May the land hold your medicine with every other gift And when evil gathers ‘round May those against you fall And every good person hear your call to…
One Drum, One Prayer, One Circle to survive To protect our mother earth and stop the shattering of life
Lifestyle News
FARSB Advocates for CalFood Support Amid Potential Funding Cuts
Boys and girls learned to make preserves to top the scones served with tea. Left to right: Ariana Alvarada, Naiomy Zepeda and Emilin Zepeda. Photo by Chris Sloan
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Despite Higher Covid Risk, Pregnant Women Are Now Ineligible for Vaccine
By Sunita Sohrabji
UCSF infectious diseases specialist Dr. Peter Chin-Hong says the Department of Health and Human Services recommendations eliminating pregnant women and healthy children from Covid-19 vaccine eligibility is worrisome and not based on scientific data.
(Canva image)
Pregnant women are severely immunocompromised during gestation, but in the US they will no longer be eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine.
Health and Human Services
the vast majority of Americans are saying no. Maybe they want to see some clinical data as well. Maybe they have concerns about the safety,” he stated June 1 on the CBS news program Face the Nation.
A new, more contagious variant of Covid, NB.1.8.1, is currently making the rounds in Asia, and is expected to contribute to a surge of Covid infections this summer in the US.
‘Worrisome Recommendations’
group is because the immune system is not mature enough,” he said at an American Community Media news briefing May 30. “For those under six months, they rely on the antibodies going across the placenta from the mom. And by eliminating the vaccine, even in healthy pregnant people, you wouldn’t be able to protect that group easily.”
After the Shots: Rising Illnesses and the Growing Threat of Bird Flu
By April Ryan
‘Americans Are Saying No’
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has defended the statement, noting that fewer people are getting the Covid-19 vaccine. “For 88% of American kids, their parents have said no to the COVID shot last season. So
Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced last week that the Covid-19 vaccine will no longer be among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended vaccines for pregnant women, and healthy children and adults under the age of 65. Kennedy made the announcement in a one-minute video on X/Twitter, ahead of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which is scheduled to meet June 25-27. Previous administrations have waited for ACIP to announce best practices before sending out their own recommendations.The HHS secretary, who has come under fire for his anti-vaccine stance, said there was no clinical data to support the need for booster vaccines for healthy pregnant women and children.
Becerra Urges States to Prioritize Health Care for Vulnerable Communities
by Breanna Reeves
During his tenure as health secretary under the Biden administration and COVID-19 pandemic, former U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra led initiatives that made vaccinations available to underserved communities, including pregnant women and children, declared Monkeypox as public health emergency to foster action and worked to expand the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. (flckr.com)
Former U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra gave insights into the current state of HHS under the leadership of current HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during the annual Association of Health Care Journalists Conference in Los Angeles on May 30.
Moderated by Joanne Kenen, the journalist in residence at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Becerra discussed the changes underway at HHS following new leadership and answered questions from journalists about how those changes will impact vulnerable communities.
During his tenure as health secretary under the Biden administration and COVID-19 pandemic, Becerra led initiatives that made vaccinations available to underserved communities, including pregnant women and children, declared Monkeypox as public health emergency to foster action and worked to expand the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Less than a year into Trump’s second term and these initiatives and programs are at risk of being dismantled under Kennedy’s leadership.
In May, a leaked draft of the budget proposal revealed that the Trump administration plans to cut certain health programs under HHS, including eliminating all funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services effective
October 1, 2025.
In another blow to the previous administration’s practices, on May 27, Kennedy announced on X that he would remove the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) recommendation for healthy pregnant people and children to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
“We have an obligation to protect the health of the American people, and to be silent is to acquiesce,” Becerra said. “There’s too many people acquiescing to what’s going on right now, including some of the largest law firms in the nation, some of the most spectacular institutions of higher education, some of the biggest and wealthiest corporations in America — no más. That’s not the way to go.”
In the face of threats to eliminate funding for states who choose to pay for healthcare for undocumented residents and the elimination of federal behavioral health grants that help students access mental health support, Becerra said “you just got to stand up.”
The House Energy and Commerce Committee released a bill that outlines provisions to reduce the federal deficit. One provision aims to reduce federal Medicaid funding to states by penalizing states for providing coverage to immigrants with their own state funds. California
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said Kennedy’s recommendations were worrisome. “Pregnant people are relatively immunocompromised. And the reason why they’re immunocompromised is because the immune system doesn’t want to recognize the growing fetus too much. So that puts them at risk for lots of other infections in general, including serious COVID,” he said.
Chin-Hong said he was also concerned about the recommendations regarding young children, specifically those under 6 months. “The reason why we see serious disease in that
Last year, there were 150 pediatric deaths from Covid-19. Kennedy has recommended Covid-19 boosters only for those over 65, and those who are very sick or have co-morbidities. This leaves out healthcare workers, another critical group, noted Chin-Hong.
Co-Morbidities and Confusion Boosters are essential for everyone, stated Chin-Hong. “We know from multiple studies that not having a recent vaccine is a risk factor for getting hospitalized and dying, even if you might have gotten vaccines earlier.”
About 1/3 of Americans will be eligible for a vaccine booster because they have co-morbidities, including a high BMI, chronic heart or lung disease, diabetes, or even
continued in last 2 columns
"Most Favored Nation" Pricing Doesn't Actually
Put America First
By Larry Bucshon
The White House just announced a sweeping plan that could ultimately cap U.S. drug prices at the lower levels seen in other developed countries.
Administration officials have good intentions. They're trying to shake up the plainly unacceptable status quo, in which American "citizens pay massively higher prices than other nations pay for the same exact pill, from the same factory, effectively subsidizing socialism abroad," as President Trump put it.
But this proposal could largely eliminate the incentives for biotech companies to invest in new medicines, ultimately resulting in millions of premature deaths and lost jobs.
Foreign price fixing is a real problem. Most other wealthy countries artificially cap the cost of medicines. Those countries know they'll get away with it, because as economist Craig Garthwaite explains in a recent paper in the Journal of Economic Perspectives, many foreign countries are "too small to be central to the drug development investment decisions of innovative firms."
It's entirely unfair that Americans are forced to disproportionately shoulder the majority of the world's research and development burden.
But adopting other countries' artificially low prices won't fix the problem. It'd just make it impossible for biotech companies to recover their immense R&D costs -- and thus destroy the incentives to develop new treatments altogether.
This isn't just a theoretical concern. Europe used to dominate the global biotech industry for most of the 20th century, accounting for more than half of all new drugs developed -- but America surged ahead by the late 1990s after European policymakers kneecapped their domestic innovators with price controls.
And while America historically resisted the temptation to impose price controls on medicines -- at least until the Inflation Reduction Act -- we have imposed them on medical devices before,
with disastrous results. A new National Bureau of Economic Research paper examined what happened when Medicare slashed reimbursements for certain medical devices by more than 60%. Innovation fell off a cliff. Patent filings dropped 75%. New product launches fell 25%.
The executive order would replicate that mistake on a far larger scale. If it takes effect, companies will simply stop investing in most new drug research. It's simple economics -- kill the potential return, and you kill the risk-taking too.
That'd come at a massive human cost. New drugs have been responsible for more than a third of the decline in cardiovascular deaths since 1990. Now we're seeing promising treatments for obesity, ALS, and rare genetic disorders.
Imagine telling families that future breakthroughs won't be coming -- because we chose to import foreign price controls.
There are smarter ways to lower prices without compromising innovation.
First, we must eliminate the waste in our healthcare system. More than half of every dollar spent on brand-name drugs doesn't go to the companies that make them -- it's absorbed by a complicated supply chain with misaligned incentives that rakes in hundreds of billions from hidden rebates and markups, with no requirements to pass savings on to patients.
Second, we should tackle the foreign pricing problem through trade negotiations. Other wealthy nations should have to pay market rates for medicines if they want access to American markets.
The White House is right to be angry about foreign price fixing. But we need to fight it without destroying one of America's most successful industries in the process.
Larry Bucshon, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, served as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 8th congressional district from 2011 to 2025. This was originally published in the Indianapolis Star.
The shift in the federal response to stopping covid vaccines for certain segments of society and the increase in cases of measles and the uptick in COVID and flu at the beginning of the year has Americans pondering what we know or don’t know. Medical professionals are concerned there is something else on
Center spoke with Black Press USA on the rise in these illnesses and concerns the medical profession has.
Despite Higher Covid Risk, Pregnant Women Are Now Ineligible for Vaccine...continued
certain mental health conditions.
But the recommendations from Kennedy are expected to lead to a lot of confusion in the general population as to who is still eligible.
“I’m worried that confusion will lead to just even lower
uptake in the fall because people will be worried that they will be charged with a bill,” said ChinHong. He recommended getting a booster right away, while folks can still get appointments, before the new guidelines set in.
NMA Advisory: What to Know About Vaccines
Health News
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that COVID-19 vaccines are no longer recommended for healthy children and pregnant women.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) listed pregnancy as a condition that puts individuals at high risk for COVID-related complications. Moreover, health care experts have been encouraging annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.
Benefits of Vaccinations Being vaccinated can provide major health benefits including protecting communities from life-altering and life-threatening illnesses.
The COVID-19 vaccine is a more trustworthy method to build immunity as opposed to contracting the virus itself, and can help reduce the risk of severe
illness, including hospitalization and death. When a significant portion of the population is vaccinated, it helps to slow the spread of the virus, protecting those who are at higher risk of severe illness. In addition to children and pregnant women, this includes the elderly and people with underlying health conditions.
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of COVID-19-related hospitalization by around 54% among infants during the first 3 months of life.
About COVID-19 COVID-19 continues to cause millions of illnesses, hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations, and tens of thousands of deaths each year in the United States. It was the 10th leading cause of death in 2023. For more information, visit CDC.gov or speak with your healthcare provider.
Read the latest stories on our website: sb-american.com
The deadline for submitting legal publications is Monday by 5pm
Questions? Call us @ 909-889-7677or email mary@sb-american.com
Becerra Urges States to Prioritize Health Care for Vulnerable Communities...continued
is one of 14 states that use their funds to provide health coverage to children regardless of immigration status, as well as for some adults, according to a KFF analysis.
However, according to Becerra, this tactic isn’t feasible — “you can’t commandeer a state on how to use their funds,” he said.
While states could sue if the bill’s provision is passed, California may take steps to eliminate Medi-Cal access to undocumented residents as part
of the governor’s 2025-26 budget revision released on May 14.
“I get it. Budgets are tough. Governors have to balance the books. No doubt,” Becerra said. While not currently a sitting governor, Becerra threw his hat in the ring as a candidate in California’s 2026 gubernatorial race.
“But what I will tell you is this, it is Pennywise and pound foolish to say that you’re going to save money by cutting health care for the folks who need it the most.”
Man Sitting In The Chair In Hospital And Getting His Chicken Pox Vaccine. Professional Nurse Is Performing Injection And Putting A Patch On. Public Healthcare Concept. (Photo by Goroden Koff)
the horizon. Bird flu is a concern. Dr. Jehan Elbayoumi, a practicing physician and instructor at Georgetown University Medical
Archiving the Black Web Trains the Next Generation to Safeguard Digital Heritage
by Breanna Reeves
Since returning to office in January, President Donald Trump has issued 152 executive orders, each chipping away at different federal programs, policies and laws that claim to “restore” America.
As the Trump administration attributes dismantling diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives as an act of restoration, others attribute it to a mass erasure — erasure of African American historical artifacts, erasure of Black contributions to this country, erasure of Black innovation.
In March, Trump signed an executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which accuses museums such as the National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), a Smithsonian Institution, for spreading “improper partisan ideology.”
As the order took effect, reports of artifacts being removed and returned to their owners by the museum surfaced, as well as the removal of the historic Greensboro, North Carolina lunch counter and a stool.
A statement released in response by the Smithsonian stated that these procedures are routine, and confirmed that the
historic Greensboro stool and counter are still on display.
“Further, the Smithsonian routinely returns loaned artifacts per applicable loan agreements and rotates objects on display in accordance with the Smithsonian’s high standards of care and preservation and as part of our regular museum turnover,” according to the statement.
“Recent claims that objects have been removed for reasons other than adherence to standard loan agreements or museum practices are false.”
The executive order also extends beyond physical museums as the National Parks Service removed Harriet Tubman’s image and a quote from its website that is dedicated to the Underground Railroad.
References to “enslaved” people and the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 were also removed.
While the webpage was eventually restored after public outcry, and some of these artifacts still remain on display, it’s unclear for how long and raises larger concerns about what happens when physical artifacts disappear and how Black history can be kept alive and chronicled outside of museums.
Questions and Answers for Parents of Children with Disabilities
By Maureen Samms-Vaughan
As a parent, what can I do to support my child with a disability? Why is it important to focus on a child’s abilities?
Every child with a disability has strengths. These may be in doing artwork, in their personality, or in their motor skills. Every child has strength. It’s more important for us to focus on what children can do, and their abilities, rather than their disability. We can use children’s abilities to assist the areas that they have most challenges with right now.
How can I communicate with my child with a disability and how do I know when he/she wants to communicate with me?
Some children with disabilities will be able to speak with you. Others will not be able to speak. But they do communicate, even though they don’t speak. For example, when a newborn baby comes into a family that baby communicates without speaking. You learn the baby’s likes and dislikes by whether they smile, laugh, or whether they cry. The same occurs with children with disabilities who can’t speak.
Thursday, June 5, 2025
Questions and Answers for Parents of Children with Disabilities...continued
also stimulate them by directly playing with them, by making little toys in the home, putting stones in a bottle and shaking it, by waving ribbons in front of their eyes, different colored ribbons. There are many things that you can do with just things around your house.
Can I breastfeed my child if he/she has a disability?
Breastfeeding is important for all children but is especially important for children with disabilities. Breastfeeding is important for children’s growth, nutrition, and brain development. Many children with disabilities can breastfeed, but only a few are not able to breastfeed. And those who can’t and can be fed expressed breastmilk, because breastmilk is the best.
Why are the early years of every child’s life so critical?
The early years of every child, whether they have a disability or not, are critical because when we stimulate the brain during these early years we are ensuring that the brain develops to its full potential. We are making sure that children have the best development that they can have and this happens for children with disabilities and children without disabilities.
How do I play with my child with a disability?
Children with disabilities enjoy being played with just like any other child. They enjoy you reading to them, showing them pictures, tickling them, hugging them, cuddling them. They respond to you with laughter and smiles. If they don’t like a particular play that you are doing, they will tell you. They will stop laughing, they’ll stop smiling.
Try something else. You will find something because you know them best.
If I don’t have time to play or money to afford toys, what can I do?
If you don’t have a lot of time to play with your child, there may be other family members in your home who will be able to play with your child with a disability. Brothers and sisters are great around children with disabilities. They stimulate them because they talk to them a lot and they play with them. They don’t seem to be concerned about whether a sibling has a disability. They play with them just like anyone else.
What is your advice to parents who suspect that their child has a disability?
If you have a concern that your child has a disability, go to your nearest health provider and let them know your concerns. Some concerns may turn out not to be a problem at all, but some may, and your child may be identified as having a disability. It’s just as important to provide children with disabilities with a loving environment. Children who are shown warmth and love grow up to be loving, warm people. A child with a disability who is shown warmth and love will grow up to be an adult who may have a disability, but who is a wonderful person to be around.
Maureen Samms-Vaughan is a Professor of Child Health, Child Development, and Behavior at the University of West Indies in Jamaica. She is an advocate for vulnerable children, particularly children with disabilities and those impacted by violence, and has published significant research in these areas.
Trump-Era Cuts, Truth Bans Fuel Growing Racial Divide in U.S. Education
By Stacy M. Brown
American People Diversity Celebration and 4th of July and Independence Day in the United States bringing diverse people together as a multicultural celebration of freedom and patriotism as a Fourth day honor celebrating USA.
Despite the promise of equal opportunity heralded by the Supreme Court’s 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education, a new WalletHub report reveals that America’s educational system remains critically unequal—especially for Black students. The disparities, experts say, have only widened in recent years, worsened by former President Donald Trump’s dismantling of federal education funding and his administration’s attacks on teaching real American history. WalletHub’s analysis ranked states by racial equality in education, using key metrics such as gaps in graduation rates, college degree attainment, and standardized test scores between Black and white students.
Wyoming, New Mexico, and West Virginia top the list for equity, while Connecticut, Minnesota, and Wisconsin rank lowest. According to the report, school districts with predominantly white students receive $23 billion more in funding per year than districts with majority nonwhite students. “Promoting racial equality in education can have a significant impact on promoting equality in the overall economy,” said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. “It is essential to ensure that all school districts receive sufficient funding, the latest technology, and equal opportunities for tutoring and extracurricular activities.”
But instead of addressing these inequities, Trump and his allies have stripped resources from schools, gutted the Department of Education, and fiercely opposed instruction that addresses America’s history of racism, slavery, and systemic inequality. Their rejection of Critical Race Theory—often a stand-in for broader discussions about race—has sparked book bans, curriculum censorship, and efforts to whitewash the past.
Rodney Coates, a WalletHub expert and professor at Miami
University, said the system is structurally rigged. “Race and class are both associated with differential school spending. Poor areas—mostly Black, Native American, and Hispanic— have lower per-pupil spending across our country,” Coates said. “Educational opportunity and a commitment to excellence are the only lasting solutions.”
The report details how states like Connecticut and Wisconsin—among the worst for racial equity—suffer from wide gaps in high school graduation rates and access to advanced coursework. In contrast, states like Hawaii and New Mexico show narrower gaps in test scores and degree attainment. “It’s not just about race, but the effects are highly racialized,” said Shauna Lani Shames, a WalletHub expert and political science professor at Rutgers University. “Schools remain segregated today by geography and class, which are deeply tied to race due to generations of redlining and discriminatory policies.” The pandemic and recent economic downturns have exacerbated the problem. As WalletHub expert Tyrone Howard of UCLA explained, the regression in math and reading scores for Black and Brown students is alarming, and without targeted resources—school counselors, academic support, and mental health services—the gaps will only grow.
William McCorkle, also a WalletHub expert and an education professor at the College of Charleston, noted structural barriers in South Carolina that perpetuate inequality. “Even at the kindergarten level, some children are divided based on gifted and talented programs, which are almost completely based on parental income.” According to experts, solving these inequities requires more than just increased funding. It demands a commitment to truth, accurate teaching of history, and valuing every student regardless of their background. “Every person deserves the finest education we can provide,” said WalletHub Expert Dr. Kim Scipes, a professor emeritus of sociology at Purdue University Northwest. “Despite its wide usage, there is no white race, no black race, no brown race—there is only one race, the human race,” Scipes stated.
They tell you what they like by smiling or laughing, and they tell you what they don’t like by crying or making an upset face.
What can I do in my day-today to make sure I’m stimulating my child and his/her brain development?
Children are stimulated by everything in their environment: by the sounds, by the interactions, by your smile. So, if your child with a disability is around you, you should make sure that you spend time talking with them, explaining in simple language what it is you’re doing, smiling with them, telling them all about their environment, making noises around them so they can respond to noises. Everything that you do, as you are moving about the house, as you are doing your housework, involve and include your child in it. Move your child into the room in which you are working. Tell them what you are doing: you are washing the dishes, you’re dipping the dishes in the water. Tell them exactly what you are doing. All of that will stimulate them. You can continued in next 2 columns
Assembly approves four Ramos bills as legislators work to meet critical deadline
Ramos measures range from preventing suicide on state bridges, to continuing local election oversight from FPPC to increasing safety on tribal lands
SACRAMENTO— Assembly lawmakers approved four Ramos bills dealing with public safety, election oversight and the reburial of Native American human remains.
The Ramos bills that will now head to the Senate are:
AB 31 (Tribal Police Pilot Project) establishes a three-year pilot project that would grant peace officer status to California tribes in a limited capacity in the State of California. AB 31 is sponsored by the Yurok Tribe and supporters include the Peace Officers Research Association of California, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, the Habematolel Pomo
Of Upper Lake, Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians and others. It was approved on a 79-0 vote.
AB 359 (Fair Political Practice Commission) repeals the sunset date authorizing the Commission to contract with local agencies to advise on, implement, and enforce local campaign finance or government ethics law. It is sponsored by the Fair Political Practices Commission and also supported by the City of San Bernardino, League of Women Voters of California and California Special Districts Association. It was approved on a 79-0 vote.
Assembly approves four Ramos bills as legislators work to meet critical deadline...continued
AB 440 (Suicide Prevention) would require the Office of Suicide Prevention (OSP) to work in collaboration with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on the review and deployment of suicide prevention measures on state’s bridges. The bill requires OSP to identify areas with a history of suicide attempts and provide recommendations to Caltrans on potential solutions that would reduce the risk of future incidents. AB 440 is sponsored by the Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services and also supported by the California Alliance of Child and Family Services, California Police Chiefs Association, NAMI California, Bridge Rail Foundation, California State Association of Psychiatrists, Children Now and others. It was approved 79-0.
AB 977 (California State Universities Tribal Burial Sites) would require the California State University (CSU) system, in consultation with Native American tribes, to develop a policy to identify available CSU-owned land for the reburial of Native American human remains. It would also require the establishment of a Northern, Central, and Southern site for those purposes. Santa Rosa Rancheria Tachi Yokuts Tribe is the sponsor. Other supporters include the Habematolel Pomo of Upper Lake, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Tule River Indian Tribe and Society for California Archaeology. It was approved 79-0.
Fellows selected to participate in the 2025 WARC School, a yearlong training program hosted by Archiving the Black Web, sit during orientation. (Photo by Spicer Studios)
Little boy with Down Syndrome with his parents and sisters ( Photo by Courtney Hale)
Rialto Black History Committee Founder Hattie Mae Love Pettway Inge Passes in Rialto
San Bernardino, Calif. - The life of Hattie Mae Love Pettway Inge will be honored in service on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at Loveland Church, 17997 Merrill Ave, Fontana, CA. Pastor Chuck Singleton will deliver the eulogy.
Viewing is from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., followed by the service at 11:00 a.m. Inge passed on April 28, 2025.
Internment will follow at 2 pm at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Blvd, Riverside, CA.
Inge was born June 22, 1934, in Vredenburgh, Alabama, to George Leon Love and Earl Lucille. Following her father’s passing, her mother married Winston Pettway, making Hattie the eldest child in their family.
Raised in Mobile, Alabama, Hattie dedicated her life to service and education. After graduating from Alabama State University in Montgomery, she earned her nursing diploma from Dixie Hospital’s Nursing School in Hampton, Virginia, in 1962, and further pursued a degree from the University of Maryland
while stationed in Tachikawa, Japan.
In 1952, she married Roy Inge. Together, they raised six children—Deborah, Roy Jr., Karen, Gail, Joan, and Michele— traveling the globe as a military family, experiencing diverse cultures.
According to her daughter, Hattie was a lifelong learner who embraced education in various forms, earning degrees and certifications in floristry design, bookkeeping, and other trades from reputable institutions. Her certifications reflected her determination and wide-ranging interests.
In 1972, Hattie settled in Rialto, California, where she became a vibrant presence in the community. A member of the Rialto Baptist Church and later Loveland Church in Fontana, she co-founded The Rialto Black History Committee in 1985, which became a registered nonprofit in 1986, dedicated to cultural awareness and celebrating African American contributions in the community.
Under her leadership, the committee organized the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon for 35 years, awarding scholarships to deserving local students and honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
Hattie was also a committed member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated for over 30 years, holding multiple leadership positions.
“Her impact spanned generations, serving in several organizations such as the Military Wives Club, Protestant Women of the Chapel, and the Tachikawa Air Base Youth Program. Even in retirement, she taught community classes through the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.), continuing her mission of care and protection,” said Pastor Singleton.
“Hattie is lovingly remembered by her daughters: Deborah IngePinkham (San Bernardino, CA), Karen Inge (Rialto, CA), Gail (Tony) Fisher (Huntsville, AL), Joan Inge (Rialto, CA), and Michele (Craig) Farmer (Upper Marlboro, MD); grandchildren: Gregory Hale, Amber (Walter) Fisher, Anthony Fisher II, Creshel Farmer, and Craig Farmer Jr.; and great-grandchildren, including Patrick Nieto,” said Pastor Singleton.
She is also survived by her sister Phyllis Pettway; nieces and nephews; cousins; in-laws; special son Armondo (Danette) Moreno; and a host of friends and godchildren. Hattie was preceded in death by her beloved husband of over 60 years, Roy Inge Sr.; son Roy Inge Jr.; parents; stepfather; and siblings.
“Hattie Mae Love Pettway Inge lived a life full of faith, service, and love, leaving a legacy of wisdom and compassion that will inspire all who knew her. May she rest in eternal peace, reunited with loved ones in the embrace of God,” said Pastor Singleton.
From Kitchen Karaoke to Cruise Stages, Maysa Leak Keeps Creating Black Music
By Stacy M. Brown
Grammy-nominated singer Maysa Leak, one of the most distinctive and dynamic voices in soul and jazz, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known during Black Music Appreciation Month for a candid and joyful conversation that traced her journey from Baltimore stages to global acclaim. Still radiating the same warmth that’s made her a fan favorite for more than three decades, Maysa shared what the month means to her, her recent successes, and exciting plans for the road ahead. “I just appreciate the culture, period,” Maysa said of Black Music Appreciation Month. “We created so much of the music the world listens to on a daily basis. It’s very important that we celebrate it, so we won’t ever forget. We have to celebrate it every day now.”
With a honey-toned mezzosoprano that helped define the sound of British jazz-funk legends Incognito and an illustrious solo career that spans fifteen albums, Maysa continues to build on her legacy. Her latest project, “Remix for Your Soul”—a companion to her 2023 release “Music for Your Soul”— features standout remixes and has already produced two No. 1 hits on Traxsource: “I Don’t
Mind” and “Down with Me.” She released the record under her independent label, Blue Velvet Soul Records, which she founded in 2018. “It’s a big deal for me to hit number one without a major machine behind me,” she said.
“I’m the only machine I have— well, God is the greatest machine of all. But here on Earth, I’m doing this on my own.”
That independent spirit has carried Maysa through a storied career that began with background vocals for Stevie Wonder’s “Wonderlove” shortly after graduating from Morgan State University in 1991. A phone audition with Incognito’s Jean-Paul “Bluey” Maunick led to her breakout as lead vocalist on hits like “Don’t You Worry’ Bout a Thing.” Maysa’s debut solo album “Maysa” arrived in 1995 and turns 30 this August. She’s preparing to mark that milestone—and many others— with a major celebration in 2026, dubbed her “35-60-10” tour: 35 years in music, turning 60 years old, and ten years of her fan-favorite “Kitchen Karaoke Sundays” livestream series.
“I want to take it to another level,” she said. “Big stage, big background, and a tribute album
to Phyllis Hyman. Her family gave me their blessing, and I want to do it with an orchestra. It’s going to be beautiful.” Maysa credited Melba Moore’s performance in the Broadway musical, “Purlie,” as the moment she knew she wanted to sing. Chaka Khan, she said, helped shape her approach to jazz, soul, and funk. As for her current playlist? It features music by bassist Byron Miller, vocalist Kimberly Brewer, and Incognito’s live album recorded in Tokyo. “I still pinch myself to this day that I was a part of that band,” she said. Fans can catch Maysa on a six-city tour this summer, including a two-week cruise engagement. But no matter the venue, her gratitude never fades. “Every time someone spends their money to come hear me sing, I don’t take that for granted,” she said. “It’s a gift every single time.” Asked what message she hopes people take from Black Music Appreciation Month; Maysa was direct: “Hold on to it. Don’t let anybody erase it,” she stated. “You can’t change history. We brought a lot to this whole world musically. We have to preserve it and hand it down to our children and grandchildren.”
By Stacy M. Brown
overdue conversations about how the prison system devalues and dehumanizes Black lives.
used his
to call out the racism
witnessed firsthand in federal prison—shining a rare spotlight from within the system on the unequal treatment of Black inmates. At a Nashville press conference, Chrisley described how young Black men were routinely denied access to programs and opportunities that he, a wealthy white man, easily received. “I was not denied that,” he admitted. “But we know why I wasn’t.” While some dismissed his remarks as too little too late, others acknowledged that his privilege could force long-
Chrisley’s words matter—not because they’re new, but because they come from someone many in mainstream America might finally listen to. His experience adds a surprising voice to the chorus of Black activists who’ve spent decades calling out discrimination in prisons. “The disparities I know all too well,” Yusef Salaam, a member of the Central Park Five –now, Exonerated Five, and a New York City Councilman, told Black Press USA. “I welcome the support and advocacy of anyone joining the fight to right
these wrongs. We need all handson deck.” Salaam and others said the moment raises key points that cannot be ignored.
Here are 10 Reasons Why Chrisley’s Remarks Matter for Black Americans:
Confirmation from Inside: Chrisley’s statements echo what Black inmates and advocates have long said—now backed by someone with direct access and a national spotlight.
White Privilege Named and Claimed: He openly acknowledged that his race gave
him access others were denied, making a rare public admission of systemic bias.
Media Visibility: His high profile ensures major media coverage, potentially elevating prison reform back into public debate.
Cross-Audience Impact: As a white conservative figure, his words may sway audiences who’ve ignored or dismissed Black voices.
Exposure of Policy Gaps: His account reveals how policies meant to provide rehabilitation are unequally applied based on race.
Support for Advocates: Organizations pushing for prison reform can now cite his experience as additional validation.
Disruption of the “Equal Justice” Myth: His experience directly challenges the belief that prisons treat all inmates the same. Call for Accountability: He has publicly pledged to fight for the men he left behind—raising expectations for follow-through.
New Pressure on the System: Public figures spotlighting injustice create momentum for lawmakers to act.
Moral Imperative: His faithdriven message—“when you know better, you do better”— calls others to speak up, especially those with privilege.
Newswire Senior National Correspondent
Todd Chrisley and daughter Savannah Chrisley of the reality TV series Chrisley Knows Best interviewed by RumorFix at KIIS-FM's Jingle Ball 2014. (Wikimedia Commons / Photo by RumorFix)
April D. Ryan Black Press USA Washington Bureau Chief & Senior White House Correspondent
Hattie Mae Love Pettway Inge founded The Rialto Black History Committee in 1985, which is dedicated to cultural awareness and celebrating African American contributions to the community. The committee organized the Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon, awarding scholarships to deserving local students and honoring Dr. King’s legacy.
Stage lighting beams spotlight and smoke of events show or concerts
