Years
www.facebook.com/ SDVoiceandViewpoint
Vol. 66 No. 1 | Thursday, January 1, 2026
www.sdvoice.info
2025 IN REVIEW
Some of Those We Love and Lost in 2025
SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER LASHAE SHARP-COLLINS
PHOTO: CBM
By Edward Henderson
CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA Dr. LaShae Sharp-Collins was elected to the California State Assembly in November 2024 to represent the 79th District, which includes southeastern San Diego, El Cajon, La Mesa, Lemon Grove. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Africana Studies, a master’s in education with an emphasis in Multicultural Counseling, and an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from
Advocate for Health, Aging Californians and More San Diego State University, where she later returned as an adjunct professor. Sharp-Collins, who is co-chair of the California State Assembly’s Select Committee on CalFresh Enrollment and Nutrition, says she is driven by a commitment to equity, community well-being, and expanding opportunity for all Californians.
CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA
As we bring 2025 to a close, we’ve curated a selection of events, topics, and local issues we covered this past year. We hope you enjoy revisiting just a few highlights from our 2025 archive. —Voice & Viewpoint SEE 2025 PAGE 2
Grama Blue’s House 4th Annual Community BBQ. PHOTO: CW, The Freelancer
By Voice & Viewpoint Staff
Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) represents the 60th Assembly District. He was first elected in November 2022.
A NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER:
PHOTO: CBM
and California Baptist University, Jackson brings a blend of academic expertise and lived experience to the Capitol. California Black Media (CBM) spoke with Dr. Jackson about his successes and disappointments this year as well as his goals for 2026. See JACKSON page 2
Ask an Expert: Q&A ON Trauma and Aging with
Dr. Lenore A. Tate By Amanda Kim
CALIFORNIA BLACK MEDIA Licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Lenore A. Tate has spent decades helping individuals and communities understand the long-term effects of trauma and the pathways toward healing.
See AGING page 2
Our Best Stories in 2025
A SALUTE TO OUR AFRICAN NATIONS
By Edward Henderson
Based in Sacramento, Tate earned her Ph.D. from the California School of Professional Psychology–Fresno, a master’s degree in psychology from Howard University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Mills College.
2025 WRAPPED
"No Kings Day" March in San Diego Oct. 18, 2025. PHOTO: Ike Hall
A Strong Equity-Focused Voice in the Legislature
A graduate of CSU San Bernardino
SEE PAGES 12-19
See SHARP-COLLINS page 2
SEVEN QUESTIONS FOR ASSEMBLYMEMBER COREY JACKSON
In the Legislature, Jackson has emerged as a key voice on issues related to equity, social services, and community wellbeing — first as chair of the Human Services Committee in 2023 and now as chair of Budget Subcommittee No. 2 on Human Services. His leadership has placed him at the center of some of the state’s most urgent conversations, from protecting essential safety-net programs to shaping long-term strategies for children, families, and vulnerable Californians.
2026
Serving San Diego County’s African & African American Communities 66 Years
These articles continue our salute to the independence anniversary of African nations. This acknowledges our respect and appreciation of our brothers and sisters among us as we work together to build better lives.
Sudan’s Path to Independence: January 1, 1956 Sudan’s path to independence was shaped by a long history of powerful African civilizations and successive waves of foreign rule. Known in antiquity as Nubia, the region was home to the Kingdoms of Kerma and Kush, Sudan's flag raised at independence ceremony in the 1st of January 1956 by the Prime Minister Ismail al-Aazhari and opposition leader Mohamed Ahmed al-Mahjoub. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons which thrived politically and culturally for centuries before declining in the first millennationalist movements—most notably the Union of the nium A.D. After the fall of Kush, Christian Nubian Peoples of Cameroon (UPC)—emerged, demanding kingdoms dominated until around 1500, when Arab independence and political representation, often facing migration accelerated the spread of Islam. In the 19th repression from colonial authorities. century, Sudan fell under Egyptian control backed by Britain, and in 1899 it became the Anglo-Egyptian On January 1, 1960, French Cameroon gained indepenCondominium—nominally ruled by both powers but dence as the Republic of Cameroon under President effectively governed by Britain. Ahmadou Ahidjo. A year later, following a Sudanese nationalism grew in the early 20th century as UN-organized plebiscite, educated elites and political movements demanded selfthe southern part of rule. After World War II, pressure for independence British Cameroons voted intensified amid global decolonization. Negotiations to join the new republic, forming a federal between Britain, Egypt, and Sudanese leaders led to state that reflected the self-government in 1954, and on January 1,1956, Sudan country’s French and formally gained independence. However, unresolved regional, ethnic, and religious divisions would soon English colonial legacies. challenge the unity of the new nation. In 1972, a constitutional referendum replaced federalism with a unitary Cameroon’s Path to Independence: state, reshaping goverJanuary 1, 1960 nance. While Cameroon Cameroon’s path to achieved early post-inindependence was dependence stability, tensions rooted in this shaped by layered systems of foreign rule colonial divide continue that followed strong to influence its political precolonial chiefdoms landscape today. and kingdoms. In 1884, Germany estab- Cameroon’s flag. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons Read the full article and more on the lished the colony of Kamerun, exploiting its agriculnations of Libya, tural and strategic potential. After Germany’s defeat in Cameroon indepenWorld War I, the League of Nations divided the territory dence and more online between France and Britain, creating French Cameroon at www.sdvoice.info and British Cameroons. Under French administration,
www.sdvoice.info
Dr. Lenore Tate. PHOTO: Courtesy of Dr. Lenore Tate