SB American News Week Ending 11/23

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 Douglass (1849)

Californians Spurn Sports Gambling Initiatives on Election Day

McKenzie Jackson | California Black Media

On Election Day, Golden State voters emphatically rebuked the sports gambling initiatives on the ballot.

With 67% of the ballots counted at press time, according to the Associated Press (AP), 83.31% or 5,628,855 California voters voted against Proposition 27, which would have legalized online sports gambling. The initiative was backed by gambling-industry titans Bally’s, BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics, FanDuel, PENN Entertainment, and WynnBet.

Prop 27 was the second least successful ballot measure in the last 30 years, based on the percentage of yes votes. Nearly 17% or 1,127,983 voters marked “yes.”

Prop 27 was opposed by over 50 of California’s Native American tribes who said Internet sports wagering would harm gambling business at tribal casinos statewide.

Greg Sarri, chairman of the Federated Indians of the Graton Rancheria Tribe in the Bay Area,

a member of the Coalition for Safe Responsible Gambling, No on Prop 27, said the No on 27 campaign is thankful voters stood with state Indian tribes and downed the proposition supported by the gambling companies.

“Today’s vote is a show of support for tribal self-reliance and a total rejection of corporate greed,” Sarris said in an election night statement.

Anthony Roberts, Tribal Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation in northern California, said No on 27’s polling before the Nov. 8 election revealed Californians do not support online sports betting.

“Voters have real and significant concerns about turning every cellphone, laptop, and tablet into a gambling device,” Roberts said, “and the resulting addiction, and exposure to children.”

Another sports wagering measure – this one supported by

dozens of Indian tribes -- was also smacked down.

Proposition 26 would have legalized sports betting at tribal casinos and allowed them to offer craps and roulette. According to the AP though, 69.71% or 4,665,484 voters marked “no” on their ballot to the question of whether they supported the initiative, while 30.39% or 2,036,734 Californians marked “yes.”

Santa Monica voter Clint Thompson, 39, doesn’t gamble but voted in favor of Prop 26 and opposed Prop 27.

“I wanted the tribes to keep money,” Thompson said. “I feel like it's hard for them to make money. Any possible hustle they can do on tribal lands, they should have it.”

The runup to Election Day saw advertisements for and against both of the propositions overwhelm the airwaves and digital platforms. The campaigns combined waged the most expensive ballot measure

contest in U.S. history — spending nearly half a billion dollars.

Both campaigns sought support from various individuals and entities across California. Many civil rights organizations, including the Baptist Ministers Conference of Los Angeles and Southern California, the Black Business Association, CaliforniaHawaii State Conference of the NAACP, and the California African American Chamber of Commerce supported Prop 26.

Voter rejection of the gambling initiatives leaves the largest market in America, California, out of reach to legal sports betting.

Nathan Click, the Prop 27 campaign spokesperson, told media the coalition knew passing Prop 27 would be an uphill battle, but they remain committed to it.

“This campaign has underscored our resolve to see California follow more than half the country in legalizing safe and responsible online sports betting,” Click said.

No Red Wave but Election Night Results Could Still Leave Democrats Feeling Blue

predicted hadn’t developed.

In the House, where power is likely to change hands, one Democrat, Virginia Rep. Elaine Luria, lost her seat. However, Ohio GOP Rep. Steve Chabot also lost his House seat.

Some House seats that most predicted as easy Republican prey like Democratic Reps. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, and Chris Pappas in New Hampshire, were retained.

Fetterman defeating Republican Mehmet Oz for the Pennsylvania Senate seat, Democrats currently hold a 48-47 seat advantage in their efforts to retain control.

As it’s been the past two years, Democrats need 50 seats to control that chamber because Vice President Kamala Harris acts as the tiebreaker.

As

And while crucial races like

On Wednesday morning, Republicans were assured of 207 House seats to 188 for Democrats. A party needs 218 seats to control the chamber.

With Democratic Lt. Gov. John

However, the race to represent Georgia in the Senate remains surprisingly close. Warnock awakened on Wednesday in a statistical dead heat with Walker, each at 49% of the vote with 96% of precincts counted.

Approximately 18,000 votes

No Red Wave but Election Night

separate the candidates. If neither candidate wins 50% of the vote, they will square off on Dec. 6 in a runoff.

The Wisconsin Senate race between Republican Incumbent Ron Johnson and Democrat Mandela Barnes, a Black man, was too close to call. Johnson held a slight advantage Wednesday morning with about 32,000 more votes or 50.6% to 49.4%.

However, most of the remaining ballots are GOP strongholds.

Meanwhile, Senate races in Arizona and Nevada will determine the Senate majority, and both outcomes aren’t expected for several days.

Senator Mark Kelly, a Democrat, held a 52% to 45.8% lead over Blake Masters, a Republican, Wednesday morning with 66% of the votes counted.

Republican Adam Laxalt holds a 49.9% to 47.2% lead over Democratic Incumbent Catherine Cortez Masto in the Nevada Senate race.

Wes Moore counted among the 21 Democrats to win gubernatorial elections, making history as the first African American to win election to governor in Maryland.

Stacey Abrams conceded the Georgia governor’s race to incumbent Republican Brian Kemp in a rematch of their controversial and bitter 2018 contest.

“Tonight, I am doing clearly what is the responsible thing. I am suspending my campaign for governor,” Abrams said following her loss. “I may no longer be seeking the office of governor, but I will never stop doing everything in my power to make sure the people in Georgia have a voice.

“While I may not have crossed the finish line, that doesn’t mean I won’t stop running for a better Georgia,” she added. “Even though my fight – our fight – for the governor’s mansion came up short, I’m pretty tall.”

Two of the nation’s most controversial governors, Greg Abbot (R-Texas), and Ron

Results

Could Still Leave Democrats Feeling Blue...continued

DeSantis (R-Florida), easily won re-election. Abbot defeated Beto O’Rourke, while DeSantis beat Charlie Crist.

Democratic Rep. Val Demings lost her bid for the U.S. Senate against GOP Incumbent Marco Rubio.

However, Florida voters made history by electing Maxwell Frost in the race to represent Florida’s 10th Congressional District.

The 25-year-old Afro-Cuban becomes the first member of Generation Z elected to serve in the U.S. House.

“History was made tonight,” Frost tweeted. “We made history for Floridians, Gen Z, and everyone who believes we deserve a better future.”

In Pennsylvania, Austin Davis, a 32-year-old state lawyer, became the first African American elected to lieutenant governor in the Keystone State. It’s the highest position any African American has held in Pennsylvania.

“I am deeply mindful that this is my opportunity, but it’s not an opportunity I paid for,” Davis said.

“It was paid by the sweat equity and work of people who came before me. It is my responsibility to view it as while I may be the first, I’m not the last and that I blaze a trail for other minority candidates to follow in my footsteps.”

Also, Summer Lee won the race in the 12th Congressional district, becoming the first African American woman elected to Congress from Pennsylvania.

In Los Angeles, former Congressional Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass remains hopeful in her quest for mayor.

At press time, Bass trailed billionaire developer Rick Caruso by less than 1,500 votes – a 50.19% to 49.81% margin.

Bass hopes to become the first Black woman to hold that job.

Voters in California, Michigan, and Vermont codified abortion rights in those states. A ballot measure to do the same in Kentucky proved too close to call as of Wednesday morning.

Billions spent on the election while Americans struggle

Dr. Glenn Mollette

Total cost of 2022 state and federal midterm elections may have exceeded $16 billion according to a OpenSecrets analysis. Federal candidates and political committees spent over $8 billion while state candidates, party committees, and ballot measure committees spent close to $8 billion.

Here are the five most expensive Senate races this year according to OpenSecrets. This includes both general election and primary candidates together with the outside groups supporting them,

such as the national parties and Super PACs:

· Pennsylvania: $373.6 million

· Georgia: $271.4 million

(Georgia’s is growing)

· Arizona: $234.6 million

· Wisconsin: $205.8 million

· Ohio: $202.1 million

Pennsylvania’s crucial U.S. Senate race has been the most expensive in the country this year — and it wasn’t even close. Georgia may end up close to $300

By Stacy M. Brown, NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

As it’s been the past two years, Democrats need 50 seats to control that chamber because Vice President Kamala Harris acts as the tiebreaker

Election Night turned slowly into Wednesday morning, the U.S. House and Senate balance of power remained a tossup after tens of millions of votes were counted nationwide.

the Georgia Senate race between Republican Herschel Walker and Democratic Incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock remained too close to call, the red wave many political watchers and several mainstream media outlets

A series of lawsuits, verdicts, and settlements, against San Bernardino County Children & Family Services raises alarms – Part 4

Gail Fry-Contributor

In a review of numerous annual reports of the San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury, an independent civil watchdog agency formed each year that investigates citizen complaints, county agencies, towns, cities, and special districts, the San Bernardino American News found the grand jury had highlighted issues at the Department of Children & Family Services over the previous decade.

Members of the 2015-2016 San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury interviewed management employees of the Department of Children & Family Services, law enforcement officers, and county counsel seeking their input and opinions on the Department’s operations.

In their interview of county counsel, the grand jury heard county council’s emphasize the need for trained social workers, factual documentation, and beginning in September 2014, county council’s requirement that CFS employees receive risk assessment training to assist them in preventing unnecessary deaths of children.

Eric Rossman, Attorney for

the Mueller Family that sued CFS, confirmed when his law firm investigated CFS examining its training, supervision and procedures, they discovered social workers over looked red flags that indicated a child at risk.

(Source: Gail Fry, San Bernardino American News)

In interviewing county counsel, law enforcement officers, and CFS employees, the grand jury found they had clashing interests: County counsel’s priority was the safety of the child above unification with family; law enforcement placed the importance arresting perpetrators of child abuse; while CFS prioritized keeping families intact.

Charles Bonner, attorney for whistleblower former social worker Eric Bahra, confirmed that foster parent Leonardo Rodriguez, who sexually molested and photographed numerous foster children, has never been arrested or charged for his crimes.

(Source: Gail Fry, San Bernardino American News)

The grand jury report exposed CFS social workers have high caseloads and “tremendous turnover,” with insufficient management staff, no method to measure the effectiveness of its training, no job descriptions from which to weigh job performance, with performance reviews only once a year.

The grand jury determined CFS

had no drug or alcohol testing equipment to discover if a parent is under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol according to their report. Without this ability, CFS had no legal basis to remove children from the home or to notify law enforcement if the parent was intoxicated.

Law enforcement shared with the grand jury that its working relationship with CFS requires improvement, county counsel redacted CFS reports based on confidentiality where the department to receive redacted CFS reports, which, law enforcement claimed obstructed investigations, and members of the law enforcement were routinely excluded from Child Dependency Court Proceedings

The grand jury criticized CFS when case files they requested were not provided for seven months. The 2015-16 Grand Jury issued recommendations to address issues it identified, including the formation of a local independent Oversight Review Board (non CFS personnel) be established to monitor CFS operations. The County of San Bernardino rejected the grand jury’s recommendation explaining the California Department of Social Services (DSS) provides oversight of CFS, and enforces compliance with state laws and regulations.

The 2016-2017 Grand Jury

emphasized every child has a right to permanency, being returned to their biological family, or placed with a relative, adopted, or in a group home, with federal and state laws requiring permanency occur within 12 months of the date a child enters foster care, after which federal and state funding will reimburse the county for CFS services.

The grand jury discovered social workers had been experiencing disputes regarding their compensation with management, and had reached a standoff over those issues in 2014. The dispute and standoff provided an avenue for the SBC BOS to slash their salaries by seven percent resulting in low morale and turnover of social workers.

When employees shifted their union affiliation in 2016, their salaries were restored, with a two percent raise in 2017, and three percent in 2018. As a consequence, the grand jury found CFS was almost fully staffed.

Eric Rossman, Attorney for the Mueller Family, explained voters need to look at whether CFS is being properly funded to do what they are supposed to do to protect children. (Source: Gail Fry, San Bernardino American News)

To increase its staffing, CFS offered more opportunities and enticements including salary increases, an incentive for remote

continued on page 4

COMMENTARY: The Fight to Save Affirmative Action for All of Us

By Emil Guillermo

You might get that impression as the Supreme Court heard two cases concerning the use of race in college admissions at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.

The Harvard case in particular has Asian American plaintiffs represented by a group called Students for Fair Admissions, or SFFA.

Don’t be misled. The group isn’t representative of Asian Americans at all. They’re a minority within a minority.

National polling data of Asian American voters show that nearly two-thirds actually support affirmative action.

What you’re witnessing is a classic “divide and conquer” strategy, where some Asian Americans are being used by a white anti-civil rights activist named Ed Blum, who has dedicated his life to upending diversity and race equity in society from voting rights to higher ed.

And now it looks like his time has come.

Remember, conservatives aren’t automatically against affirmative action. The late Justice Sandra Day O’Conner wasn’t—totally. To the court’s

credit, it’s always allowed for race to be addressed within reason. No quotas, of course. But race has always been allowed as a factor.

Then came 2012, the Fisher v. Texas case, where Blum handheld a white female plaintiff in an attempt to destroy the use of race in admissions at the University of Texas. It didn’t work, but Blum learned a lesson.

He realized he didn’t have a perfect victim. That was clear when even Antonin Scalia wondered aloud what the damage was to the white Fisher when she was not able to gain admission in a process where she had to compete fairly against people of color.

Indeed, what was the harm? The cost of the application fee?

So, this time, Blum found aggrieved rejections from Harvard and UNC on the internet. And he found a large group of plaintiffs among a new generation of Asian Americans immigrants from the 1990s and after, or rather their sons and daughters.

They were the ones who never quite understood why their little darlings with the straight A’s and perfect scores would be rejected from Harvard.

They have enabled Blum’s yellow-faced attack against

affirmative action.

It’s created a civil war between Asian Americans, only the Mason/Dixon line is the year of your family’s immigration. 1980s? ’90s? 2000s?

These are the folks within our community who have been used by Blum in an attempt to topple this thing in society that has allowed previous generations of not just Asian Americans, but all people of color, and women, and anyone else who has been qualified, to break through the color barriers in life.

They just needed that benevolent boost we’ve known as “affirmative action.”

It’s impossible to say exactly how the court will come down on the Harvard and UNC cases. You can’t really tell by the questions asked by the justices.

Clarence Thomas took a swing at UNC by questioning the educational value of diversity.

“I didn’t go to racially diverse schools, but there were educational benefits,” he said. “And I’d like you to tell me expressly when a parent sends a kid to college, that they don’t necessarily send them there to have fun or feel good or anything like that; they send them there to learn physics or chemistry or whatever their study. So, tell me what the educational benefits are.”

North Carolina Solicitor General Ryan Park, arguing for UNC, spoke of the benefits of racial diverse environments, but not to Thomas’ satisfaction. “Well, I guess I don’t put much stock in that because I’ve heard similar arguments in favor of segregation, too.”

Thomas would be indicative of the hardline conservative attitude.

But the court’s first African American female was there, too. Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson questioned the SFFA attorney about the harm the race conscious approach had in admissions. The SFFA attorney couldn’t speak to any significant harm and admitted that even whites benefitted from the system now in place.

So, why even bother with the plaintiff’s SCOTUS appeal if the lower courts have already decided Harvard and UNC’s programs weren’t discriminatory?

Well, the only thing that’s changed is the six solid, unyielding conservative justices in the high court.

You saw what they did to abortion. Would they do the same thing to affirmative action? In a heartbeat.

That’s what worries people. A decision is expected in 2023. I’m being optimistic while I still can. Affirmative action has been a considerable tool to fight racism. Without it there’d be no BIPOC middle class.

So, what’s the ultimate way to beat a court hell-bent on playing politics?

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a webshow on http://www.amok. com

The post COMMENTARY: The Fight to Save Affirmative Action for All of Us first appeared on Post News Group. This article originally appeared in Post News Group.

STEM Is the Future.

So How Do We Get More Black Kids Involved?

By Maya Pottiger | Word In Black | Sacramento Observer

(WIB) – Last year, an elementary school principal in rural Mississippi wanted to get her students excited about science. So, after receiving grant funding, she bought robots for third and fourth graders to assemble and then held a white coat ceremony for them, complete with their names embroidered on the jackets.

Though she’s been principal for three years and has worked in schools for the last decade, Alicia Conerly, Ed.S., comes from a science background.

“I know and understand that if you don’t pique the interest of children early, the odds of them, once they hit middle school into high school, if they don’t already like it or find something that they enjoy about it, they won’t go into STEM career fields,” Conerly says. “So I wanted to change that.”

It worked. Every “STEM Pioneer” successfully assembled and programmed their robot. And the reception, complete with a photographer and certificates, motivated younger students in the school.

But without the grant — and donors for the ceremony — this wouldn’t have been possible. And Black students, especially from a young age, need to be exposed to engaging STEM activities to

Combatting a Lack of Representation

Though we’re finding representation in superheroes and mermaids, it’s harder to come by in STEM. Of course, Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett and Dr. Marcella NunezSmith were key figures in creating the lifesaving COVID vaccines, but even they didn’t get the celebrity treatment.

As the saying goes, you can’t be what you can’t see. Conerly was the first Black administrator in her building, and as soon as she became principal, students kept telling her they wanted to grow up and be a principal.

“There is not enough representation on any level, and especially in the STEM career fields,” says Conerly, who is also a member of the National Science Teaching Association.

A new Pew Research Center

State Superintendent Tony Thurmond Hosts Webinar to Help Educators and Parents Protect Students from Opioid Crisis

SACRAMENTO—State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today convened a panel of experts to speak about strategies to combat the opioid/fentanyl crisis, the fastest-growing cause of death in California. The webinar was open to all educators and parents, and featured subject matter experts from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, California Health and Human Services, local educational agencies (LEAs), the California Department of Education (CDE), and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). Thurmond and participants discussed ways to work together to educate, prevent, and intervene to support and protect students.

In 2012, California suffered 82 deaths attributed to fentanyl overdoses, and last year that number jumped to more than 6,000. Fentanyl deaths accounted for more than 80 percent of all drug-related deaths among California’s young people in 2021. Often, teens think they are purchasing Adderall, OxyContin, Percocet, or Xanax pills, but drug dealers are making fake pills with the cheaper, stronger, and deadlier synthetic drug fentanyl. As a result, most victims ingest fentanyl accidentally, thinking they are using something less dangerous. It can be up to 50 times more potent than heroin and 100 times more potent than morphine. It is odorless, tasteless, and colorless, and one pill can be fatal.

Many LEAs have reported positive outcomes when they offer substance abuse intervention services on campus in partnership with local community-based organizations. The CDE encourages LEAs to grow and expand community partnerships that can bring trusted and proven prevention and intervention resources to campuses. The

CDE has partnered with the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to launch the Children and Youth Behavioral Health Initiative, which will offer an unprecedented level of family mental health and wellness services on campuses through several different components. In addition, State Superintendent Thurmond is using his office to promote grant opportunities for aspiring mental health professionals—including outreach to candidates of color seeking to become mental health clinicians. Email mhcounselors@ cde.ca.gov for more information.

Along with Superintendent Thurmond’s remarks, the webinar featured presentations by Anne Milgram, an administrator with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration; Laura Didier, a mother in Placer County, California, who tragically lost her 17-year-old son Zach to a counterfeit pill made of fentanyl and now works to educate others about the crisis; Dr. Sohil Sud, who leads the CDPH Safe Schools for All team and is a practicing pediatrician and associate professor at UCSF; Madison Royer, a senior policy consultant on Aurrera Health Group Integrated Care team; Erin Ross, a nurse with the CDE Whole Child Division; and Dareen Khatib, an administrator of health and wellness at the Orange County Department of Education.

A full recording of the webinar can be found on the CDE Facebook page. In addition, videos of prior fentanyl crisis webinars that CDE co-hosted with CDPH are available on the CDPH YouTube page. More information can be found the CDPH Overdose Prevention Initiative web page and the CDPH Fentanyl web page. Instructional resources can be found on the CDE Health Education Framework web page.

Community /Education News

Credit: Shutterstock

What is happening to foster

children

while

under the care of San Bernardino County Children & Family Services that led to at least four lawsuits

being filed?

understand the options they have and see themselves in the field.

White coat ceremony. Photograph courtesy of Gray’s Southern Image Photography.

Don’t think for a second that Asian Americans are rooting to end affirmative action.

Californians Paid Higher Gas Prices as Oil Companies Made Massive Profits

Gas prices have a crippling hold on California drivers. As averages currently stand at $5.46 for regular and $5.80 for premium, what is the incentive for oil companies to lower their prices while their profits skyrocket?

California refiners Phillips 66 and Marathon reported profit increases up to 1,243% higher than last year. BP spent $2.5 billion on share buybacks; a strategy companies use to increase the value of individual shares when they know demand for their product will increase. These profits come despite the fact prices of crude oil are going down.

“Big oil is making record profits by ripping off Californians. They said high prices were because of war, state taxes and maintenance, but now we know that was all a facade – these high prices went straight to their bottom line,” said Gov. Newsom in a press release. “A price gouging penalty will put these windfall profits back in the pockets of Californians.”

Newsom has done his part to help lower prices at the pump. His call for the early switch to winterblend gasoline and demanding accountability from refiners and oil companies doing business in California decreased prices by 88 cents from record highs a few months ago.

Republicans, however, believe a different approach needs to be taken.

Assembly Chief Clerk Sue Parker and Secretary of the Senate

Erika Contreras received a formal request from Republican members of the Assembly and Senate to have the Legislature recalled for a joint recess to discuss pressing matters including the consideration of legislation to suspend the state gas tax, establishing a gasoline supply reserve, and expediting permits to increase supply.

The request was denied by Senate President Pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) in a letter citing that “significant time and resources” had been dedicated to the issue, including providing rebates to help with the cost of fuel and consumer goods.

These funds are currently being distributed to qualified residents.

Atkins also cited that a reconvening of the Legislature would not leave enough time for any immediate aid since the California Constitution does not allow bills to be sent to the Governor’s desk after Nov. 15.

For those who electronically filed their taxes in 2020 and

received a refund by direct deposit, their payment will come via direct deposit before Nov. 14. Golden State Stimulus, or GSS, recipients of 2021 are first in line to get their payments. Debit cards are being sent out in four groups organized in alphabetical order by last name.

Remaining eligible recipients will receive payment through January.

In response to the blowback from reports of oil company profits, CEOs from Shell and Exxon have released statements acknowledging a need for change. Some have been more direct than others with their commentary.

Shell CEO Ben van Beurden stated, “I think we should be prepared to accept that our industry will be looked at for raising taxes in order to fund the transfers to those who need it most.”

Exxon CEO Darren Woods said “There has been discussion in the US about our industry returning some of our profits directly to the American people. That’s exactly

what we’re doing in the form of our quarterly dividend.”

California drivers acknowledge gas prices are high, however many feel they don’t have reliable alternatives.

Milan Finnie, 28, lives in the Mission District of San Francisco where gas has been between $5.50 and $6.39 a gallon. “There were places I wanted to go but gas was too expensive. I’ve started to hear that phrase a lot more often from friends as well. I remember feeling limited. It limits me from doing things I need to do and also extending myself for recreation,” Finnie told California Black Media.

Parking issues also caused a lot of extra driving for Finnie. San Francisco’s public transportation system provides some options. However, as a young Black woman walking alone, Finnie has experienced moments where she hasn’t felt safe.

“Depending on the time of the night, I don’t want to do that. The later it gets, the more people are prone to do something unpredictable. I try to keep a really open eye. In my neighborhood there is a high level of prostitution. I personally don’t feel comfortable being out late at night unless I’m extremely covered or accompanied by someone because I have been asked if I was ‘working’. The safest thing would be to drive, but gas prices are high,” Finnie said.

Press releases and legals Submission Deadline is MONDAYS by 5pm Email Press Releases to: mary@sb-american Submit legals on website @ sb-american.com

COMMENTARY: Time’s Up for Clarence Thomas Being on the Supreme Court

By Donald M. Suggs | The AFRO

Clarence Thomas has been a controversial figure since day one — and it’s time for him to step down from the United States Supreme Court.

From the allegations of sexual harassment by Anita Hill and his ethically questionable behavior and connections with his politically active wife, to his commitment to upholding laws that do harm to the Black community, Thomas’ name has long been synonymous with controversy.

It began after his nomination in July 1991 to the Supreme Court by President George H.W. Bush. Thomas was selected to replace retiring civil rights icon, and the court’s first African American justice, Thurgood Marshall. Who can forget the contentious confirmation hearing — and Anita Hill’s testimony about alleged sexual harassment — that immediately followed?

The controversy also stems from his inexplicable, confusing, and contrarian views on race in America. From his early years to his overall performance during his 30-year tenure on the court, his rulings have justifiably earned strong disdain, even loathing among most Black Americans, as well as many Hispanics and women.

The calculation of Republicans at the time, to place a young, reliably conservative Black person in the so-called ‘Black Seat’ that was held by liberal justice Thurgood Marshall, for more than 30 years, has proven to exceed the right’s wildest expectations. Thomas (only 43 when he came to

the court) has repeatedly supported policies that have helped maintain the status of disenfranchised minority communities.

Thomas’ ascendancy to the court has created particularly disastrous consequences for Black America’s aspiration to move forward in American society. His response to criticism, while not unexpected based on his history, still shows an almost pugnacious and unyielding indifference to the plight of Black people in the United States — a condition that has plagued them since the nation’s founding.

Now, he is joined on the Supreme Court by Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, a proud Black woman, who was confirmed by the Senate despite a wild and disingenuous smear campaign against her by some Republican senators on the Judicial Committee. She is expected to offer a sharp contrast to Thomas’ servile obedience to far right-wing Republican ideology and its racist political dogmas.

Remember, Thomas had succeeded a judicial giant on the court, someone who championed equal justice for all under the law during his long years as a Supreme Court Justice. Marshall was even eulogized by conservative Chief Justice William Rehnquist, who wrote, “inscribed above the front entrance of this court building are the words ‘equal justice under the law.’ Surely no individual did more to make these words a reality than Thurgood Marshall.”

The Senate confirmed civil

continued on page 6

Billions spent on the election while Americans struggle...continued

million. Who in Georgia is happy about this? The television stations.

If you own a television station during a highly contested election season, in a lucrative market, you’ll never have to work again when the election is over.

Democrat John Fetterman, Republican Mehmet Oz and their political allies have spent a combined $312 million on a race that ended up not even close. According to OpenSecrets, a nonpartisan group that tracks money in politics, money poured into Pennsylvania for Fetterman as he had over $15 million dollars more to work with than Oz.

Many are wondering how Fetterman, a recuperating sick man with the worst debate performance ever on national television, beat Oz? The answer is not a simple sentence. The bottom line was they didn’t want Oz. Oz was seen as an outsider. Someone who moved to the state to further his career in politics. He is well known. That should have helped but it didn’t help him that much. He was well known for being rich, famous and still relatively good looking for an old guy. Fetterman on the other hand is the local state guy.

He doesn’t look so good. They know who he is whether that is good or bad. He has been very sick and trying to rehabilitate. A lot of people feel sorry for him and didn’t see him as a rich, affluent personality but rather a down to earth guy they can relate to. People often cheer for the underdog. If you post something on social media saying you are sick, bad off, down and out you’ll get many more “likes” or responses than if you post you have just received a career advance and a $50,000 bonus.

Rand Paul of Kentucky raised $26,410,677 and reportedly spent $20 million. I hope he will use the remaining $6 million to rebuild homes in East, Kentucky recently devastated by flooding. Or, even West, Kentucky that is still trying to rebuild from tornadoes that flattened that part of the state.

The money spent on this election and all national elections is insane. People all over America can’t afford to go the grocery store, fill up the gas tank or take care of their children’s school needs. Yet politicians, interest groups, political parties, and Political

Action Committees are raising and spending mega millions trying to keep or gain a political seat. You can’t do anything about it either. We have so very little to say about anything in our country.

We have to depend on the people spending millions to get their seat. If the seat is worth millions to them and the special interest groups then do you really think they care about what we think?

Hear Dr. Mollette each weekday at 8:56, 11:30 and 4:26 EST on XM radio 131

Contact him at GMollette@ aol.com. Learn more at www. glennmollette.com

Buy his books at Amazon.com and other online dealers

additional biographical, Dr. Glenn Mollette is a graduate of numerous schools including Georgetown College, Southern and Lexington Seminaries in Kentucky. He is the author of 13 books including Uncommon Sense, the Spiritual Chocolate series, Grandpa's Store, Minister's Guidebook insights from a fellow minister. His column is published weekly in over 600 publications in all 50 states.

Edward Henderson | California Black Media

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas shares some words before swearing in Sonny Perdue as the 31st Secretary of Agriculture April 25, 2017, at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.. Photo by Preston Keres

Voters of Color and Women Saved the Democrats from Disaster

By Peter White

(Nov 14, 2022 )Despite new laws to keep people from voting and gerrymandering election districts to take away the power of minority communities, the Republican “red wave” that pollsters predicted ahead of last week’s midterms didn’t happen.

Ethnic Media Services debriefed six experts on their reactions to the election results and what should be done to prepare for the 2024 election.

“Voters of color were very concerned about the state of their lives beyond the economy,” said Sergio I. García-Rios, assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin and former director of Polling and Data at Univision News. “A second concern in all of our polls was gun safety, and mass shootings and also security along the border.”

García-Rios said that President Biden’s message about saving democracy resonated with voters of color concerned about rising extremism. But they also sent Democrats a message: “We’re disappointed with both parties.”

That theme was picked up by Christine Chen, executive director of Asian Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote), who says the number of Asian American voters who eschew both parties is growing. APIAVote conducts an annual survey of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters.

“We noticed that there’s an increasing number of independent voters among the Asian American electorate, 35% overall, and the Chinese actually had the largest percentage… at 47%. Even the Vietnamese, who support Republicans at a higher rate than any other Asian ethnic group, are losing party identification to independents,” Chen said.

said Karma Cottman, who leads Ujima, which focuses on violence targeting women in the black community. “Safety for us as women, safety for us as members of the black community, overlaid with what safety looks like in terms of physical and financial safety so we are able to take care of our families.”

Cottman pointed to down ballot elections, noting strong support for black female candidates. “We were voting up and down ballot for black women,” she said.

Voter intimidation, meanwhile, did not prove to be a major issue this election, says Gowri Ramachandran, senior counsel of the Brennan Center’s Democracy program. “We had law enforcement leaders in some communities coming out and saying, look, intimidation of voters and of election workers is not going to be tolerated,” she said.

Exit polls showed Republicans gaining ground in support among African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. While support for Democrats remained high among women and young voters, Cottman echoed those who say Democrats spent too much time trying to flip predominantly white districts instead of investing resources in communities of color.

While Democrats maintained control of the Senate following a narrow win this weekend by Nevada’s Catherine Cortez Masto, control of the House remains in question, though Republicans have the advantage.

Common Cause National Redistricting Director Kathay Feng says extreme gerrymandering was a decisive factor in Republicans’ strong showing in states like Ohio and Florida and will be key should they retake the House.

and Republican governors approve the maps they draw, the fight for fair maps is a David vs Goliath proposition. But in North Carolina and Minnesota, courts forced district maps to be redone. And in New Mexico, Native Americans threatened to blockade the commission if it didn’t redraw the Navajo districts. They did so.

Feng, who has been at the center of efforts to challenge partisan gerrymandering through litigation and state-based organizing around ballot initiatives and legislation, says citizens have been able to get maps drawn fairly where election commissions do the redistricting.

“Across the board we saw many improvements,” she noted, pointing to states like California, Michigan and Colorado.

In Michigan, voters passed a measure in 2018 to create an independent Redistricting Commission. It has made a big difference there. State Representative Joe Tate is likely to become the first black speaker of the Michigan House. In Detroit and nearby suburbs, an African American is going to be representing this district for the first time in Washington. And in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District, incumbent Democrat Rashida Tlaib, who is Palestinian American, will be representing her newly configured district.

the first time drew a Congressional district with a 40% Latino population. “And that district, the Congressional 8th, elected for the first time a Latina representative to be part of the Congressional Colorado delegation,” Feng said.

“It’s significant to note that in each of these states there has been tremendous participation by communities of color to come out and talk about where those communities are, to talk about the growth, and to make sure that the lines are truly reflective of those communities,” she added.

Feng drew a sharp comparison with the growth of Latino populations in Texas and the black population in Florida. “Those communities were sliced and diced up so that the growth was not represented, or the historic representation was essentially dismantled. So, we see a significant difference between the states that have commissions of some form or another and those that do not,” she said.

Feng likened redistricting to fixing democracy’s clogged plumbing.

Supervisors Require New Training Regarding First Responder Photographs

Los Angeles, CA – Today, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a motion authored by Supervisor Janice Hahn regarding new trainings for LA County Firefighters, paramedics, and Sheriff’s deputies about new County policies prohibiting photographs of human remains.

Hahn’s motion is a followup to a previous motion she authored August, shortly after a jury ordered Los Angeles County to pay $35 million to Kobe Bryan’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, and Chris Chester for failing to prevent the taking and sharing of photos of their deceased loved ones at the site of a 2020 helicopter crash.

“Our failure to prevent those photos from being taken hurt Vanessa Bryant and Chris Chester as well as LA County taxpayers who ultimately had to foot the bill of the massive settlements,” said Supervisor Janice Hahn. “It is important that have new policies for our first responders on the books, but those policies will only be as effective as the training that comes along with them. We need all our current first responders and every new hire to be educated about what these new policies mean and trained explicitly in what is expected of them.”

preserve the dignity and privacy of the deceased and their family and prohibits photographs of human remains unless by certain authorized personnel.

The Fire Department has not yet implemented their new policy, but it has been finalized and has gone through the review process with labor. They plan to implement the new policy in January 2023. The new policy will address all types of employee photography, the use of recording devices, and posting on social media. It also strictly prohibits photographs of deceased persons or human remains.

“As first responders, it is imperative we provide the highest level of care while maintaining the trust and confidentiality of the people we proudly serve,” said Los Angeles County Interim Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone.

“Passing this motion solidifies our ongoing commitment to the communities we swore an oath to and will allow us to continue preserving an individual and family’s rights to dignity and privacy.”

Hahn’s motion, which was approved today in a 5-0 vote, directs the Fire Department and requests the Sheriff’s Department to report back in writing in 45 days with their plans to develop and implement training of the new policies pertaining to onscene and incident photography. The reports will detail how each department plans to train both new hires and current employees on the new policies in a way that will provide all department members with clear guidance on the application of the new policies.

Driving many black women were concerns around safety,

In red states where the state legislature controls redistricting

NFPA urges extra caution when preparing your feast this Thanksgiving, by far the leading day of the year for U.S. home cooking fires

precautions to minimize the likelihood of having a cooking fire, everyone can enjoy a festive, fire-safe Thanksgiving.”

Following are tips and recommendations from NFPA to help people cook safely this Thanksgiving:

In Colorado, the Citizens Redistricting Board meeting for

“You don’t want to know what’s in there. You don’t want to look at it. And when it bursts, it’s a mess. And that’s why you’ve got to fix it before you have that disaster… and because so many communities participated in redistricting, this time round, we saw a lot of that plumbing get fixed.”

Both the Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department have new policies that explicitly address prohibited behavior regarding photographs and recordings at scenes where human remains are present. The Sheriff’s Department adopted a new policy in July 2020 regarding the photographing of human remains which requires personnel to

STEM Is the Future. So How Do We Get More Black Kids Involved?...continued from page 2

NFPA urges extra caution when preparing your feast this Thanksgiving, by far the leading day of the year for U.S. home cooking fires...cont’d

feet away from the stove. Kids should also stay away from hot foods and liquids, as steam or splash from these items could cause severe burns.

In addition, NFPA strongly discourages the use of turkey

“Thanksgiving is a hectic holiday, with multiple dishes cooking and baking at the same time, along with lots of guests, entertaining, and other distractions in the home that can make it easy to lose sight of what’s on the stove or in the oven,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “Unattended cooking is the leading cause of home cooking fires, so we strongly encourage people keep a close eye on what they’re cooking and to minimize the likelihood of getting distracted.”

NFPA data shows that cooking was the leading cause of reported home structure fires and civilian fire injuries and the second-leading cause of civilian fire deaths and direct property damage, on annual average between 2015-2019.

On Thanksgiving Day alone, an estimated 1,400 home cooking fires were reported to U.S. fire departments in 2019, reflecting a 228 percent increase over the daily average.

“The good news is that the vast majority of cooking fires are preventable,” said Carli. “By taking simple steps and

Never leave the kitchen while cooking on the stovetop. Some types of cooking, especially those that involve frying or sautéing with oil, need continuous attention.

When cooking a turkey, remain at home and check it regularly.

Make use of timers to keep track of cooking times, particularly for foods that require longer cook times.

Keep things that can catch fire like oven mitts, wooden utensils, food wrappers, and towels at least three feet away from the cooking area.

Avoid long sleeves and hanging fabrics that can come in contact with a heat source.

Always cook with a lid beside your pan. If you have a fire, slide the lid over the pan and turn off the burner. Do not remove the cover because the fire could start again. Let the pan cool for a long time. Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on the fire.

For an oven fire, turn off the heat and keep the door closed. Only open the door once you’re confident the fire is completely out, standing to the side as you do. If you have any doubts or concerns, contact the fire department for assistance.

Keep children at least three

fryers that use cooking oil, which can cause devastating burns. For a safe alternative, NFPA recommends purchasing a fried turkey from a grocery store or restaurant or buying a fryer that does not use oil.

The children’s fiction book, San Bernardino Man Part One

By Krisanne Simmons-Smith

in a heroic, non-violent way.

There is a great moral to the story that will be inspiring and help young ones to identify when they are being bullied and how to resolve a situation peacefully.

It therefore has a positive message that relates to resolving violent crimes in a calm manner. It is currently available on Amazon and IngramSpark. A portion of the proceeds from the book will be donated to charities that assist people who have suffered from violent crimes.

poll of Black Americans found that Black adults cited seeing more Black high achievers in STEM fields as the most effective way to get young Black people interested in the field. And about a quarter of respondents said having a Black teacher in these areas while in high school would also help. And, as of 2019, only 8% of science teachers

BOB’S BASEBALL TOUR

in the United States were Black. When identifying reasons that young people don’t pursue college degrees in STEM, half of Black adults said they don’t have access to quality education, and they don’t have mentors or adults encouraging them to go into these fields. November 15, 2022 – As Thanksgiving nears, the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) urges added caution when preparing the holiday feast, as Thanksgiving Day represents the leading day of the year for home cooking fires. Between three and four times as many cooking fires occur on Thanksgiving Day as a typical day of the year.

San Bernardino Man is about a lonely young man that had a difficult childhood and became a target of bullies. He tried to resolve his issues with his oppressors but his technique failed and he suffered the consequences.

However, due to a plethora of events, all outside of his control, he learns to become a brave and mighty superhero who saves the residents in San Bernardino County where he lives, from a frightening alien from outer space,

This science fiction book is full of positive, powerful black heroes and characters, it is fun, as well as exciting and full of mystery, intrigue and suspense.

The book has very colorful with vibrant illustrations that depict each character in a way that suits their gregarious dynamic personalities.

San Bernardino Man Part Two and Part Three are forthcoming. The books are enjoyable, as well as ethical, with a strong, insightful message to our community.

A great gift for the upcoming holidays!

Announcing the release of San Bernardino Man Part One, by author Sinque Morrison. It is a science fiction trilogy of powerful books about a young man named Anthony Morrison.

By: Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah Lou K. Coleman-Yeboah

For thus saith the Lord, “I have stretched out my hands all day long to a rebellious people who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts; A people who provoke Me to anger continually to My face…” [Isaiah 65:2] blindly walking in their own selfish and greedy path and in their arrogance thinking that I will sit quietly by and do nothing. I tell you, the cry on the day of the Lord will be bitter, that day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish [Zephaniah 1:14-15].

Mine anger and my fury shall be poured out upon this place, upon man, and upon beast, and upon the trees of the field, and upon the fruit of the ground; and it shall burn and shall not be quenched. [Jeremiah 7:20]. For I am against you, O arrogant one. [Jeremiah 50:31]. This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts. I will make your chariots go up in smoke and the sword will devour your young lions. I will cut off your prey from the earth, and the sound of your messengers will never be heard again." [Nahum 2:13]. Because I have called and you have refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then you will call on Me, but I will not answer. You will seek Me diligently, but you will not find Me. Because you hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. You would have none of My counsel and despised My every rebuke. Therefore, you shall eat the fruit of your own way, and be filled to the full of your own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay you, and the complacency of fools will destroy you. [Proverbs 1:24-32].

Look at the Bible. Look at Noah and his generation. In [Genesis 6:3], the Lord says, “My spirit shall not always strive with man.” For 120 years, God said, “I want to save you.” For 120 years, God said, “Listen to Noah.” For 120 years, God was long-suffering. For 120 years, God was patient. For 120 years, God was merciful. But the day came when God said, “I’ve had enough. I’m fed up. My patience is gone.” Noah’s people were destroyed by the wrath of God in the flood. I tell you, when God has had enough, it ain’t gonna be nothing nice, you best believe that!

God has been generous to you, but the thanks offered in return is void and insulting. Know that the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9]. Talking ‘bout “it’s your prerogative you can do what you want to. It's the way that you wanna live. No one can tell you what to do, you don't need permission, you make your own decisions.” You fool you should know differently. Every one of us shall give account of himself to God [Romans 14:12]. I tell you when God has had enough, you gonna wish you had listened. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. [Romans 1:18]. You better know that you know!

Run to God’s mercy while there is still time. Because one day, God will say, okay, I’ve had enough. I’m fed up. And God, mercy will be turned to wrath and God’s long-suffering will be turned to indignation and God’s forgiveness will be turned to vengeance.” [Hebrew 12]. Don’t be another Esau who refused to repent. Because as [Job 4:9] states, “By the blast of God they, [the unrepentant] will perish, and by the breath of His anger they will be consumed.

I tell you when God has had enough, it ain’t gonna be nothing nice! Repent before it is too late!

[Inserts used from Bobby Brown – It’s My Prerogative]

WITNESS FOR JUSTICE #1125

Protect and Advocate for God’s Beloved Children Now!

Velda Love

My life has been shaped by movements for black lives since childhood. Movement language was infused in my spirit during Sunday worship services at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in the sixties and Trinity United Church of Christ on the South Side of Chicago in the mideighties until the early 2000’s. My spiritual formation, biblical interpretation, and theological and human identity have been steeped in African-centered pedagogical faith practices and education.

When one’s life is shaped by movements for racial equity, liberation, freedom, and justice, the result is a life-long commitment to the God of creation whose creative endeavor has never wavered from equity, freedom of movement across the earth, and sacred kinship

with all peoples.

I was taught and teach others that movements evolve out of struggles and strategies for civil and human rights, freedom from oppression and oppressors, access to public spaces, historical and contemporary cultural education, employment with living wages, fair housing practices, dismantling racial terrorism, unhindered access to healthcare and medical practitioners, ending violence against women and girls, and seriously advocating for justice, equity, and inclusion of our nonbinary and LGBTQAI+, Hispanic, Latin, Asian and Pacific Islanders, Caribbean, and Native and Indigenous siblings.

However, ongoing dehumanizing efforts persist. As

Protect and Advocate for God’s Beloved Children Now!... continued

of November 8, 2022, a news release indicates, “Children of African descent are not considered children at all, say UN experts.”

In a report presented to the General Assembly by the Working Group on people of African descent, they highlighted discrimination against children of African descent in areas including the administration of justice, law enforcement, education, and health.

“Due to racial discrimination, racial stereotypes, systemic racial discrimination and xenophobia, children of African descent are not considered as children at all,” Working Group Chair Catherine Namakula said when presenting the report.

“Throughout the diaspora, children of African descent face heavier policing, including more arrests, police surveillance, racial profiling, strip searches and excessive use of force. Law enforcement is in conflict with children of African descent,” the experts’ report said.

The report details how false racial stereotypes of criminality, culpability, and dangerousness influence decision-making in relation to children and youth of African descent, including by legal system personnel, such as police officers, prosecutors, lawyers, and judges globally.

In 2022, God’s children of African descent globally are not seen as children. This is outrageous! The persistent false narratives are a result of imperial colonialism. Church doctrines sanctioned domination and genocide, and Supreme Court laws, policies, and practices continue to limit human flourishing and further a global agenda to control women’s bodies.

Brian Stevenson states in the documentary True Justice that in the United States, “We have a constitution that talks about equality, liberty, and justice for all and for decades, for centuries we tolerated enslavement of other human beings. We tolerated abuse and violence against people. We tolerated bigotry and discrimination . . . I think there is a kind of smog in the air that’s created the history of slavery and lynching and segregation, and I don’t think we’re going to get healthy; I don’t think we can be free . . . until we address this problem. But to get there we’re going to have to be willing to tell the truth.”

We can no longer stand idly by and allow governments and instrumentalities swayed by false narratives to dehumanize black

children in the U.S. and around the world. It’s time the Christian Church stands in solidarity with African descended people and disrupt, eradicate, correct, protest, legislate, and demand government bodies, and representatives of the United Nations retract their statements regarding our children. Children of African descent are precious, beautiful, creative, intelligent, brilliant, sacred, and beloved of God. Children created in God’s image and likeness, valuable, and in need of our care and protection.

“Our children are our future. Dehumanizing, traumatizing, maiming, and killing African descendant children denies their humanity and negates their future, as well as the future of African descendant people globally. The violation of the human rights of African descendant children is at pandemic levels, a process that is causing injury to Black children globally. The voices of the nations need to rise calling for change that will ensure the childhood and livelihood of all children.” – Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia A. Thompson Call to Action: Advocate and Protect African Descended Children

Now is the time to dismantle systems of hierarchy, beliefs in superiority, and ideologies of dominance.

Now is the time to embrace, celebrate, and learn about the historical and contemporary value of God’s beloved people of African descent.

No more excuses. No more waiting. No more hiding. No more performing. No more empty prayers. No more ignorance. No more silence.

Get involved in the International Decade for People of African Descent. As proclaimed by the General Assembly, the theme for the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development.”

Resources are available to engage globally. Contact Rev. Dr. Karen Georgia Thompson, (she, her), Associate General Minister for Wider Church Ministries and Co-Executive for Global Ministries United Church of Christ, National Ministries ThompsonK@ucc.org for more information.

Sign up for news and resources through The Children’s Defense Fund.

JOIN THE MOVEMENT TOWARD RACIAL JUSTICE! and protect God’s African descended children. Protect all God’s precious children!

COMMENTARY: Time’s Up for Clarence Thomas Being on the Supreme Court...continued from page 3

rights litigator Thurgood Marshall as the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court on August 30, 1967, following his nomination by President Lyndon B. Johnson. He had led the NAACP legal team that in 1954 won Brown vs. Board of Education, a historic landmark decision that invalidated the concept of segregated public schools under the 14th Amendment — a constitutional amendment that had been enacted in 1868 after the Civil War, almost exactly a century before.

A majority on the Senate Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee, in a rebuff to the dissenting Southern Senators on the panel, sent their majority approval to the full Senate. They reported that nominee Marshall, “demonstrated those qualities we admire in members of our highest judicial tribunal…along with a balanced approach to controversial and complicated national problems.”

In contrast to Clarence Thomas, Judge Jackson embraces her role as a Black person. She proudly and unequivocally said, “It has taken 232 years and 115 prior appointments for a Black woman to be selected to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States, but we’ve made it. We made it — all of us.”

Reflecting on the continuing travail of many Black people in the country since they were brought to the U.S. as slaves — but still holding a belief in our drive to continue forward — she quoted poet Maya Angelou: “I am the dream and hope of the future.”

The actions of right-wing racists — despite their praise, even adulation — show what they really think about Clarence Thomas and the millions of Americans who look like him. They consider him and his fellow Black Republican Tim Scott, the U.S. Senator from South Carolina, exploitable, as “useful idiots.”

Even Thomas, 73, must be concerned about the inevitable future comparison between him, his intellect, his integrity in the past on the bench, and his verbal ability compared to this brilliant, unequivocally Black woman, Ketanji Brown Jackson, only 51.

More recently, we have seen some different challenges created by recent revelations about the role of his wife Ginni Thomas, a conservative activist and Thomas

himself.

According to dozens of messages to Donald Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Ginni Thom

Tim as worked tirelessly after the presidential election in 2020 to overturn the thoroughly vetted defeat of Trump (who has still not conceded). Moreover, the couple has long had questions raised about Thomas’ ethics in cases in the past where she has been an active advocate. He has continued to refuse to answer those questions appropriately.

A report in the New York Times Magazine in March 2022 said that they have appeared for years together at highly political events hosted by advocates hoping to sway the court. While it is possible that married people can have independent views and careers, the Thomases have gone way beyond what is considered ethically proper behavior, particularly because they brag about how they are fused “into one being” in their marriage and their politics.

Although Thomas is protected from a code of judicial ethics as a Supreme Court justice — a code that applies to all other federal judges — he continues to use that special dispensation to ignore any sense of duty to avoid what Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the “stink” of partisanship.

This adds weight to calls for him to leave the court to make room for someone who accepts their responsibility to protect the highest court in the country’s credibility and reputation. In the difference to the two other branches of the federal government, the Supreme Court depends largely on public trust to maintain its influence and authority. Thomas has repeatedly betrayed that trust and therefore undermined the democracy and freedom he claims to revere.

In conclusion, let’s turn to the last words back in the 16th century of William Shakespeare, “Live in thy shame, but die not shame with thee.”

Donald M. Suggs is the publisher and owner of The St. Louis American.

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The San Bernardino AMERICAN News subscription rate is $59.00 per year.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News is committed to serving its readers by presenting news unbiased and objective, trusting in the mature judgment of the readers and, in so doing, strive to achieve a united community.

News releases appearing in the San Bernardino AMERICAN News do not necessarily express the policy nor the opinion of the publishers.

The San Bernardino AMERICAN News reserves the right to edit or rewrite all news releases.

“When God Has Had EnoughI Tell You, It Ain’t Gonna Be Nothing Nice You Best Believe That!”

The Updated Booster is Here, Just in Time for the Holiday Season

By Dr. Jerry Abraham

Thanksgiving is next week, and Christmas is around the corner.

The holiday season has officially arrived. Now that the updated booster authorized for individuals as young as five, we’re even closer to ensuring the whole family is protected during fall and winter when the spread of respiratory viruses is at its peak.

The booster has been updated to strengthen protection against the original coronavirus strain while also targeting the dominant Omicron subvariants that have recently spread widely and continue to infect many. We all need to get boosted, and there are groups we need to ensure are protected – children five years and older, older adults and those most at risk for serious infection.

As for our older adults, your risk of getting very sick from COVID-19 goes up as you age, and COVID-19 booster doses can help lower the risk of severe illness, long-term effects, hospitalization and death. This means less strain on our hospitals, less risk to our most vulnerable populations and less worry for you and your loved ones this holiday season. .

A recent study found that overall

life expectancy for Californians decreased by three years and noted higher-than-average decreases in life expectancy for Hispanic and Black Californians due to their exposure to higher COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death rates. That’s why older adults are encouraged to prioritize vaccination to stay safer from severe outcomes and achieve your highest level of health and well-being.

And for parents, I know many of you are feeling fear and uncertainty around getting your children vaccinated and boosted because you want to be sure you make the best choice for your children’s health and futures. Misinformation that is largely spread online and on social media amplifies apprehension and confusion about vaccines.

But the facts speak for themselves: vaccines and boosters have undeniable benefits. These tools are what is best for your children as we continue to fight against COVID-19. To prevent severe outcomes, including long COVID, I strongly recommend all parents consider getting their children vaccinated and boosted.

If you remain uncertain, don’t hesitate to speak with your child’s doctor and get the facts from someone you trust. .

Everyone five and older is eligible to get the updated booster at least two months following their last dose, whether that was

The Updated Booster is Here, Just in Time for the Holiday Season...continued

their primary series or following a booster dose. Getting vaccinated and boosted lowers the risk of contracting spreading and getting severely ill from COVID-19.

The updated boosters will help children's and older adults' immune systems fight off a wider variety of variants that we most likely will see during the flu season. The booster is similar to flu vaccines, where the components of the flu vaccine are updated to help protect against the specific flu viruses circulating that year.

Similarly, COVID-19 boosters are updated to protect us against the newest variants of COVID-19.

If you are under-vaccinated or unvaccinated, the risk of complications and death increases. Get vaccinated and boosted to protect older loved ones, young children, immunocompromised friends, family and neighbors.

Wearing a mask in public indoor spaces also helps slow the spread of many different respiratory viruses including RSV, flu and COVID-19.

Everyday preventative actions like staying home when you feel sick, frequent handwashing, covering your cough, avoiding close contact with sick people, wearing a mask in public indoor spaces and getting vaccinated or boosted can help protect you and your family, especially as we head into the colder months.

To schedule an appointment for a vaccination or a booster, visit MyTurn.ca.gov.

Dr. Jerry P Abraham is the Director of Kedren Vaccines in South Los Angeles and serves as the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles Academy of Family Physicians, Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Medical Association, Trustee of the California Medical Association, and Councilor on Constitution & Bylaws for our American Medical Association. Dr. Abraham is Family & Community Medicine Physician, Global Injury Epidemiologist, and Medical Quality Specialist.

A series of lawsuits, verdicts, and settlements, against San Bernardino County Children & Family Services raises alarms – Part 4 ...continued

staffing issues and heavy caseloads, which had resulted in CFS being unsuccessful in meeting the department’s challenges.

In reviewing the concerns of the past grand juries, the 201819 Grand Jury elected to visit the San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office to seek records relating to children who died from physical abuse while in the care or supervision of children & family services.

After their visit to the coroner’s office where they had hoped to learn how it was documenting child deaths, the grand jury discovered its record system in use was outdated, and specialized reports were a challenge to obtain and the coroner was unable to easily categorize the cause(s) of death.

The 2018-19 Grand Jury determined CFS employees had poor morale, there was high personnel turnover, as a result of population growth, caseloads increased, it was a challenge to find a sufficient workforce, CFS employees lacked supervision, and field visits were few and far between.

by multiple grand juries to have an independent oversight committee to assure CFS is held accountable, in response to these recommendations, the county explained California Department of Social Services provides oversight.

While the 2019-20 and 202021 Grand Juries did not choose to investigate CFS, they ensured responses were received and the county’s responses to the recommendations made by the 2018-19 Grand Jury were published.

On June 22, 2016, then California State Attorney General Kamala Harris issued a press release announcing it was opening an investigation into the San Bernardino County Department of Children & Family Services after several complaints were filed alleging children repeatedly placed into foster homes where they were subjected to physical abuse, and some died.

assignments, reducing caseloads, and financial resources to seek college degrees.

The department expanded its recruitment to include other states, and diversified its staff.

The grand jury found CFS had improved its operations by developing new tools to assess child safety and decision-making, and determined that CFS had improved

its training and coordination with law enforcement.

The 2018-19 Grand Jury acknowledged the work of past grand juries in investigating, and identified areas of concern at CFS, and that past grand juries had determined a substantial contributing factor was CFS’

The 2018-19 Grand Jury concluded the outcome of prior grand jury investigations, determinations, and observations led this 2018-19 Grand Jury to conclude that the department of children and family services needs to be completely reorganized.

Despite recommendations

This article is the fourth in a series examining the failures by San Bernardino County’s Department of Child & Family Services to protect children entrusted to its care, and the millions of dollars in settlement costs to the county as a result. Part 5 will look into the department’s oversight by the California Department of Social Services and the investigation by the California State Attorney General.

Turn a thirsty yard into a water-wise garden

Cooler weather is the perfect time to transform your yard with colorful, drought-tolerant landscaping. In fact, water-wise plants not only help you save much needed water during extreme drought, but take your garden to a whole new level of beauty.

A series of lawsuits, verdicts, and settlements, against San Bernardino County Children & Family Services raises alarms – Part 4 ...continued from page 2

Tiffany Cross Show “Cross Connection” on MSNBC Unexpectedly Ends

By Lauren Victoria Burke, NNPA Newswire Correspondent

elections.”

Without detailed explanation and days before one of the most consequential midterm elections in recent memory, MSNBC decided to end its contract with MSNBC host Tiffany Cross. The staff who work on her show was informed of the change on Oct. 4.

Cross was host of The Cross Connection, which aired on Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. The show was the highest rated weekend show on MSNBC, whose slogan is “this is who we are.”

The sudden end to Cross’ time at MSNBC is another moment in a string of examples of MSNBC parting ways with Black women who were either hosts or commentators at the network.

The list of Black women who have departed over the last several years includes Tamron Hall, April Ryan, Melissa Harris Perry, Karen Finney and Zerlina Maxwell.

In a statement posted on social media on the evening of Nov. 4, Cross reacted saying, “I am disheartened to learn of MSNBC’s decision to cancel The Cross Connection, at such a crucial time — four days before the midterm

“Fresh off the heels of ‘a racial reckoning,’ as so many have called it, we see that with progress there is always backlash. Now is not the time to retreat to politics or journalism as usual,” Cross observed.

There has been a rise in political violence and white supremacy in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s rise to political prominence. Trump’s announcement he’d run for the presidency included a racist attack on Mexican immigrants, blaming them for crime in the U.S.

“When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” Trump said during the June 16, 2015 campaign kickoff announcement in New York.

Prior to that statement, Trump had spent years attempting to

falsely claim that President Barack Obama was born in Kenya and somehow elected illegitimately though President Obama was born in the U.S.

On June 17, 2015 a white supremacist, Dylann Roof, murdered nine Black people by shooting them to death at point blank range during a bible study at Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Those murdered by Roof including the church’s senior pastor: State Senator Clementa Pinckney.

During his time in office, Trump hired two white supremacist who often platformed and pushed policies and messaging that has been used by racists: Steve Bannon and Stephen Miller.

The FBI has reported a notable uptick in political threats and violence and named the number one threat in the U.S: as politically driven domestic terrorism.

On Aug. 4, FBI Director Christopher Wray told Congress that, “the greatest terrorism threat to our homeland is posed by lone actors or small cells who typically radicalize to violence online and look to attack soft targets with easily accessible weapons. We see these threats manifested within both domestic violent extremists and homegrown violent extremists… Individuals who commit violent criminal acts in furtherance of social or political goals stemming from domestic influences—some of which

include racial or ethnic bias, or anti-government or anti-authority sentiments.”

In 2017, a hate filled white supremacists riot broke out in Charlottesville, Va. and a counterprotester was murdered after a white supremacist deliberately drove his car into a crowd of counter-protesters. President Trump did little to push back against the racist Charlottesville rioters and instead said “there are very good people on both sides.”

In Jan. 2021, the U.S. Capitol was violently attacked by Trump supporters shortly after he incited them in a a speech to go to the Capitol on the day President Biden’s 8 million vote victory over Trump was to be certified.

Last week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi, 82, was violently attacked in his home by an intruder who struck him with a hammer. The individual trafficked in false online conspiracy theories around election fraud and QAnon driven paranoia.

At a time of rising political division and deliberate misinformation and disinformation, MSNBC is removing an on-air presence pushing back against growing racist and fascist trends in politics. Cross was recently a target of Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The silence of MSNBC on Carlson’s attack was noted by many on social media.

“So just right before a crucial

continued in last 2 columns

election cycle the plug is pulled on @tiffanydcross? What’s going on @msnbc?! First @mharrisperry & now this….I know the numbers were right….what’s goin on?”

Wrote music artist and producer Questlove on twitter on Nov. 4.

“WTH?! First @ZerlinaMaxwell now suddenly @TiffanyDCross is out @msnbc? Pro Tip: Reversing 2020’s equality by ruthlessly purging people of color or taking hints on how to treat your hosts from Tucker & Fox News won’t

appease Trump & the armed insurrectionists. They hate you,” wrote Malcolm Nance, a MSNBC contributor.

MSNBC announced Cross Connection’s debut in December 2020 along with a Sunday show hosted by Jonathan Capehart.

Moving forward, MSNBC will have different hosts in the Saturday 10 a.m. slot to replace Cross.

LBurke007@gmail.com and on twitter at @LVBurke

San Bernardino County not only is one of the fastest-growing population centers in California, it’s one of the youngest, offering growing businesses a steady pipeline of workers for decades to come. The county’s median age, 33, is the youngest in Southern California, and three years younger than the state average, attributable in large part to a surge in the number of young families.

As the chart on the right shows, more than one in four residents of San Bernardino County is under the age of 18. And with nearly 160,000 students currently enrolled in high school across the county, 66,000 in community colleges and more than 20,000 in four-year universities, the pipeline of next-generation career seekers is extremely attractive to employers looking to relocate or expand here.

Beyond sheer numbers,

research shows that nextgeneration workers offer innovative businesses insight into changes in technology, consumer habits and social norms. According to Forbes magazine, Next-Gen workers “are inquisitive and eager to learn. They’re also extremely keen to put their skills to the test and, if opportunities arise, add new skills to parlay into future opportunities.”

At WDB, we are committed to ensuring that young adults in San Bernardino County have the skills they need to launch their careers, while meeting the often-challenging workforce needs of growing businesses. This includes working with community, education and business partners to prepare future workers for 21st century career opportunities. For more on all that we have to offer, please visit our website.

State/Political News

Tiffany Cross Show “Cross Connection” on MSNBC Unexpectedly Ends...continued

County’s youth a competitive advantage in attracting jobs