Vol. 50 No. 30
November 14, 2019 - November 20, 2019
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 words or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they suppress. —Fredrick Douglass (1849)
The Sad, Sudden Death of Bernard J. Tyson, the First Black CEO of Kaiser Permanente By Tanu Henry | California Black Media
Bernard Tyson (Photo: Courtesy Kaiser Permanente) On Saturday, Nov. 9, Bernard J. Tyson, the first Black chairman and CEO of California-Based Kaiser Permanente, spoke at AfroTech, a convention organized by the Los Angelesbased digital media company Blavity. “I’ll be discussing technology and equity in healthcare,” Tyson tweeted not long before sitting on a panel at the annual gathering of Black techies that he and more than 5,000 other guests attended at the Oakland Convention Center. The next morning, just about 24 hours later on Sunday, Nov. 10, Kaiser Permanente, the health insurance and hospital system Tyson led as CEO since 2013 – and Chairman since 2014 – announced the 60-year-old executive’s sudden death. “It is with profound sadness that we announce that Bernard J. Tyson unexpectedly passed away early today in his sleep,” Kaiser Permanente wrote in a statement published on the organization’s website. Tyson’s family has not yet announced the cause of his death.
“On behalf of our Board of Directors, employees and physicians,” Kaiser’s statement continued, “we extend our deepest sympathies to Bernard’s family during this very difficult time. An outstanding leader, visionary and champion for highquality, affordable health care for all Americans.” Tyson is survived by his wife, Denise Bradley-Tyson, and three sons: Bernard J. Tyson, Jr., Alexander and Charles. Later on Sunday, Americans across the country - and Californians across the state joined Tyson’s shocked family members, colleagues and loved ones to remember the Bay Area native’s many contributions to his home state and country. “Our nation has lost a powerful, brilliant, and inspiring leader and voice for health equity and health justice,” Robert K. Ross, president and CEO of the California Endowment (TCE), told California Black Media in an email. “Peace, blessings, and the Lord’s loving embrace to my friend Bernard, and to his family.” TCE is the largest private health foundation in the state.
U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) said Tyson helped to expand health care coverage among African Americans in California. “I am heartbroken upon learning of the passing of Bernard Tyson,” Lee said. “Bernard dedicated his life to making health care more accessible for our communities. My prayers and condolences are with is family and loved ones during this time.” Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a statement shortly after finding out about Tyson’s death Sunday. “Jennifer and I are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of health care pioneer and our dear friend Bernard Tyson,” the governor wrote. “Bernard’s vision and influence made an impact at home and abroad, and he led with excellence on behalf of millions of Kaiser patients and thousands of employees.” Tyson, known across the country as one of the leading experts on U.S. health policy, was the only Black CEO of a billiondollar corporation of a similar size in California. If Kaiser were publicly traded and were not a non-profit corporation, it would
have been the 42nd largest Fortune 500 company in the United States. Tyson was also one of only five Black CEOS in the United States leading a major corporation. Kaiser Permanente administered 12.2 million health plans in 2018 and reported a net income of $2.5 billion. The corporation’s operating budget hovers just under $80 billion and it runs more than 700 medical facilities, including hospitals, across the United States. People who knew Tyson also remember him as a champion of racial justice and an advocate for diversity and equality in the work place. “I’m devastated,” Magic Johnson tweeted. The ex-NBA star and businessman was Tyson’s close friend. “He was a visionary and championed for best quality and affordable healthcare, especially in underserved communities,” Johnson wrote in another tweet. “Bernard spent over 30 years at Kaiser and as an AfricanAmerican man, I was so proud when he was named CEO.” In 2017, Time Magazine included Tyson on its list of the world’s 100 Most Influential people. The Golden Gate University alum (undergrad and graduate degrees) also served on a number of boards, including the American Heart Association and the San Francisco-based technology company Salesforce. “A light unto this world has gone out,” tweeted SalesForce CEO Marc Benioff. “He always did so much for others and the world. One of the world’s greatest CEOs.” Kaiser has appointed Gregory Adams, a former executive vice president, to replace Tyson as interim chief executive and chairman.
Shop Black Week Launches To Boost Sales Of Black Businesses Local/National News
When it comes to the financial health of businesses, black is beautiful for the economic wellbeing of an establishment. Now that idea has generated a campaign in hopes of boosting more green backs toward Black companies. Coined Shop Black Week (SBW) encourages all consumers across the country to conduct business with at least one African American-owned establishment from November 22 through November 29 (the actual Black Friday date). The following video explains all about it.
Email: sbamericannews@gmail.com Clifton Harris Editor in Chief Publisher of The San Bernardino AMERICAN News
Convicted and suspected dirty cops, hundreds of tainted cases and hundreds of police officers with tarnished reputations signal trouble for Baltimore crime fighting and efforts to obtain justice NNPA NEWSWIRE — Many learned about the Baltimore City Police through the case of Freddie Gray, who died in April 2015 following his arrest after running away from cops patrolling his neighborhood. Cell phone video of his arrest show an obviously injured Gray being dragged between two bicycle cops to a paddy wagon. Officers handcuffed and shackled the young Black man but left him unbuckled in the back of a police van. He suffered fatal injuries from an almost severed spine.
Marilyn Mosby, Baltimore City State's Attorney at the Baltimore Women's March Gathering Rally at War Memorial Plaza at 101 North Gay Street in Baltimore MD. Photo: Elvert Barnes Protest Photography/Wikimedia Commons By Nisa Islam Muhammad, Staff Writer, The Final Call @nisaislam Crooked cops are what Baltimore States Attorney Marilyn Mosby has come fact-toface with. She recently asked courts to throw out nearly 800 criminal cases handled by 25 city police officers, saying she had reason to distrust more than a dozen cops in addition to the eight convicted in the infamous Gun Trace Task Force scandal that rocked the city police department. Then the states attorney said her office has “hundreds” of police officers whose reputations are suspect, and a list of names was given to the police department. The information came to light during a forum about policing. “Video clips of her remarks spread online and captured the attention of defense lawyers in Baltimore. According to the states attorney, her office ‘created an internal sort of notification system. We notify the police department whenever there is a sustained allegation of credibility issues or even an allegation that isn’t sustained. So, we will summarize whatever the issue may be, and then we provide that list to the police department for them to determine what they’re going to do with their employee. … There are hundreds of officers on that list,’” she said, according to a Baltimore Sun report Oct. 18. She hasn’t gone into further detail, nor responded to requests from defense lawyers for access to the names of officers on the list. There were 183 officers flagged by Ms. Mosby’s office, Matt Jablow, a police spokesman told the Sun. “‘We are aware of the list and the officers who are on it,’ Jablow wrote in an email. ‘Some
of the issues involve current Internal Affairs investigations that could result in discipline, though there are many officers who are on the list despite allegations of wrongdoing that were not sustained,’” according to the Sun. “Prosecutors are held to an ethical standard of pursuing justice over convictions, and when you have sworn police officers involved in egregious and long-standing criminal activity, such as planting guns and drugs, stealing drugs and money, selling drugs, making illegal arrests and bringing false charges, our legal and ethical obligation in the pursuit of justice leaves us no other recourse but to ‘right the wrongs’ of unjust convictions associated with corrupt police officers. Police corruption is a hindrance to public safety, puts the lives of hard-working and dedicated officers at risk, and limits our ability as prosecutors to deliver justice on behalf of the citizens of Baltimore,” Ms. Mosby said in early October. Many learned about the Baltimore City Police through the case of Freddie Gray, who died in April 2015 following his arrest after running away from cops patrolling his neighborhood. Cell phone video of his arrest show an obviously injured Gray being dragged between two bicycle cops to a paddy wagon. Officers handcuffed and shackled the young Black man but left him unbuckled in the back of a police van. He suffered fatal injuries from an almost severed spine. City officials were slow in releasing details of the circumstances surrounding his death, but many believe Mr. (continued on page 6)
Our Values, Mission, & Vision Statement
Video https://youtu.be/ IkjBHINAix4 Why have a single Black Friday to launch the holiday season buying power? The week-long event allows more opportunities for people to purchase goods, products, or services from African American vendors or retailers. The campaign has the potential to garner hundreds of thousands of participants due to the
Publisher’s Corner
outreach extends from coast to coast, with more than 100 organizations and Black press serving as springboards for SBW with their followers and subscribers on social media. Over the weekend SBW had a phenomenal sweep.
As a show of solidarity in this movement, participants are requested to register on the shopblackweek.org Website. The hashtag marking this historical moment, #ShopBlackWeek and #SBW2019 and let everyone know about your purchase.
For businesses, organizations and individual supporters who want to participate or want more information visit shopblackweek.org to view the organizations participating in this historic campaign.
Our Values: Treat all people with care, respect, honor, and dignity. Tell it as it is with love, truth and integrity. Promote the interests of advertisers and sponsors along their strategic interest for the betterment of the community and beyond. Speak truth to power. Our Mission: To continuously improve communication between all people of the world. Our Vision: To be the best community newspaper in our region and the nation. Provider of: A voice for the poor, the underserved, those that are marginalized, Positive and edifying news about people, places and businesses. Keep San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles Counties informed about global trends while retaining the consciousness of local events and processes. Memberships and Associations: The San Bernardino American Newspaper is a member of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, National Newspaper Association and addociated with California Black Media.