L.A. Focus Newspaper December 2019

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CHURCH NEWS: Bishop Kenneth Ulmer Hosts Conference on Racism in Church PAGE

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HOLLYWOOD BUZZ: Lizzo and Lil Nas X Dominate 2020 Grammy Nominations PAGE

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SEE PAGE

UPFRONT

Kamala Harris Faces Uphill Battle With Growing Reports of a Struggling Campaign

UPFRONT: NNPA exlusive: Bill Cosby Speaks From Prison

>> SEE PAGE 6

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contents

L.A. Focus Publications

December 2019

Left: City Council President Herb Wesson and Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas at Ridley-Thomas’ 65th birthday celebration; Middle (L-R) Supporters join Senator Maria Elena Durazo, Senator Mitchell, Jeanette Willridge, Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Enrique Rosas, AFSME organizer Maria Guadalupe Flores Rodriguez, and Steve Dunwoody at labor protest; Right: (L-R): Dr. Honoree Edna Sims, Vin Di Bona; Honorary Event Chair, Tanya Hart; Caucus Co-Chair, Deniece Williams and honoree Edward James Olmos at the 37th Annual Caucus Awards

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From The Editor Tis The Season

Commentary “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

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UpFront NNPA Exclusive: Bill Cosby Speaks From Prison; Kamala Harris Faces Uphill Battle With Growing Reports of a Struggling Campaign

Calendar/Around LA Red Carpet Style American Music Awards 2019

What Byron Allen’s Supreme Court Case is All About

Kathy Taylor Returns With New Music; The Clark Sisters Release New Single In Advance of forthcoming TV biopic...

Money Matters

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4thMVMT Trains Black Entrepreneurs For Success Through Social Equity

Serena Williams Launches New Jewelry Line; Jay-Z Raises $6 Million for Education at Inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala; Black Opal’s New Owners Aquire Legacy Comsmetics Brand for Women of Color

Feature Story The Rebirth of Kanye West, the Jesus Movement He’s Inspired (and What Faith Leaders Have To Say About It)

staff Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Production Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell, Dianne Lugo Kisha Smith Ian Foxx Leatha Davis

L.A. Focus–On the Word, is published monthly.

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21 First Lady Files 22 From The Pulpit of: 25 In Good Taste 26 Saving Grace Juanita Pope

Michael Weinstein

Eye On Gospel

Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church, Pastor Mary Minor

Courtney Barnes

Harold Perrineau

Hollywood Buzz Lizzo and Lil Nas X Dominate 2020 Grammy Nominations; Mo’Nique Files Racial and Gender Discrimination Lawsuit

One On One

Biz News Briefs

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Game Changers

Head to Head Headlines From Africa

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Kevin Hart

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Church News

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Pastor Profile

Bishop Kenneth Ulmer Hosts Conference On Race, Reconciliation and Righteousness

Best selling and award winning gospel artist CeCe Winans will make her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut at a special holidaythemed gospel concert December 23 featuring a full band and gospel choir.

Rashod Hall

honorary advisors West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge Greater Zion Church Family Southern Saint Paul Church Faithful Central Bible Church Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Jacob’s Ladder

Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Bishop Robert T. Douglas, Sr

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Morgan Stanley Bob Blake & Associates

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Commentary

STACY BROWN Guest Columnist

“Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools”

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lack girls who have been subject to punitive school policies and practices are at an increased risk of coming into contact with the juvenile and criminal courts and leaving school altogether, ultimately impeding their ability to achieve future success and lead successful and healthy lives, according to a new documentary, “Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools.”

The film presents a number of these stories in heartbreaking detail and further explores a topic that was originally presented in the 2016 book of the same name by Monique W. Morris.

“Why not go to heaven now? I don’t want to be here,” Samaya, one of the girls featured in the film, says at one point.

At 12, Samaya is now an honor student. It has taken years of therapy and a change of school for her to recover from the traumatic incident that led her to a bridge above a highway contemplating suicide at the age of 7.

The event: One of her teachers, Mr. Rodriquez, gave Samaya a warning after a minor disagreement with another child.

Then, after Samaya accidentally knocked over a glass of water, Rodriguez punished Samaya by dragging her and her chair outdoors “in a fit of frightening rage.”

The teacher pulled Samaya out of her classroom on a cold 46degree December morning. She did not have on a coat or jacket. She was wearing only a pink and gray sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Coping with the death of her beloved father, the destruction by fire of the only home she knew, and facing constant bullying, Ariana, another story shared by the filmmakers, found herself at a breaking point. “There is so much rage building in me,” the teen shares in the film.

Now, 16, Ariana said she didn’t know how to deal with the adversity she faced at home and school. She was suspended multiple times as classmates would pick on her because “I don’t look the way they look or dress the way they dress.”

From the Editor

Fortunately, a change in schools altered the trajectory of her life. Ariana, now a drummer in her school band at the Columbus City Preparatory School for Girls, has been able to turn her life around with the help of teachers, whom she credits with guiding her toward a positive response to the challenges she faces.

Some Black girls, like Samaya and Ariana, face educational, judicial, and societal disparities.

Black girls, and other girls of color, experience discriminatory, disparate, punitive, and unfair treatment in school, including suspensions, expulsions, referrals to law enforcement and arrests on school campuses, at rates that exceed the public school population in aggregate – and far exceed those experienced by their White female peers.

“This has to change. Our girls deserve more,” the filmmakers write on their website.

According to the most recent U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights data, Black girls are seven times more likely to be suspended from school, and four times more likely to be arrested on a school campus than their White peers.

Punitive practices and policies in schools fuel systemic inequities and result in negative outcomes based on race and gender. They have profound consequences for Black girls: rather than promote safety and well-being, these practices disproportionately push Black girls out of school and further into the margins.

“Pushout” is a feature length documentary which takes a close look at the educational, judicial and societal disparities facing Black Girls inspired by the groundbreaking book of the same name by renowned scholar, Monique W. Morris, Ed.D. It is being screened in several cities. For more information, or to host a screening, visit www.pushoutfilm.com.

Stacy M. Brown is a veteran journalist and author of the new book, “Celebrity Trials: Legacies Lost, Lives Shattered, So What’s the Real Truth.”

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Tis The Season”

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L.A. Focus/December 2019

kay, so I did believe in Santa Claus once upon a time, even if from the looks of the picture to the right, I (pictured with my brother) appear to want to get off his lap.

Hard to believe the holiday season is already here and as department stores, toy manufacturers and gift retailers look for big sales to boost revenues, community organizations and agencies will be working overtime to spread holiday cheer to the needy.

At a time when hearts and spirits the world over stop to celebrate the birth of one who died on a cross some 2,000 years ago–we would do well to remember the difference we can make in the lives of others.

Most churches will be holding toy drives and food giveaways and have annual programs that serve to shine a light on those less fortunate during the holiday season. In the spirit of Christmas, the staff of L.A. Focus wishes you a safe and blessed holiday, urging you to remember the reason for the season–and that all of us have something of value to give.

While November 30 was officially Small Business Saturday, it is my belief, particularly during the holiday season that blacks–whose buying power was reported by a 2018 Nielsen report to be in the neighborhood of $1.2 trillion – are better served when they act deliberately to support black businesses, thus increasing the number of people they can employ and keep some of those dollars circulating in communities of color.

Turning to our feature story, everyone seems to have something to say about Kanye West and his newfound passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the African American and faith community’s response to his Sunday services have been particularly polarizing.

I am among those who happen to believe that the 42-year old rapper has experienced a major spiritual rebirth and in his newfound radical obedience to Christ has transformed the world around him, the evidence of which can be felt in his music, viewed in the Sunday services he presides over and demonstrated by his zeal to share his testimony with all who will listen.

The Bible says that you can judge a tree by its fruit. Well, I’d say that if reports of 1,000 souls being saved and over 9,000 Bibles given out by the American Bible Society to millennials whose interest in the gospel was sparked by West were any indication, West is doing something right.

"Say what you want about the man, but Kanye West and his choir brought some light to people who needed it today at the Harris County Jail," Jason Spencer, the public affairs director for the Harris County Sheriff's Office recently posted while also tweeting out a picture of inmates on their knees worshipping God at a Houston jail.

I understand the skepticism of many in the faith community who cringed at

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the sight of West in a MAGA hat ranting on everything from racism to running for president in 2024 while declaring his devotion to Trump at the White House and balk at the bold professions he’s made, including this one: "I am unquestionably, undoubtedly, the greatest human artist of all time. It’s not even a question at this point. It’s just a fact."

His candor and humility is just as disarming, admitting to one writer, "I thought I was the God of culture, but really culture was my God. I was trying to have my daughter outdress Rihanna."

Today, he freely declares that he sees himself strictly serving God and only working with the sole purpose of benefiting the church, including the profits from the sale of his Sunday Service merchandise.

“This is a mission, not a show,” he has repeatedly said.

For all those Christians who are not buying it, I can only relay the words of one Texas pastor, “It’s almost like the church doesn’t actually believe that Jesus can change lives,” the pastor told a Houston newspaper. “But if you read the gospels, it’s really clear. If Jesus can heal a demon-possessed person, and he can make the lame walk and heal whoever comes to him, then why is it so shocking to us to see Kanye West change?

Why do we think that can’t happen today??

The real question might be whether or not the message is lost when the gospel is repacked in radically different way than we are used to seeing. But if the declining attendance of churches across the nation, particularly as it relates to millennials, has shown, it is that traditional church is not connecting.

Says Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford, “We forget that you cannot put God in a box.

I believe the future will reveal church done differently than what we’re used to and people who have a difficult time changing will have a difficult time in the future.”

Finally, many of us said goodbye to close friends and loved ones in 2019–people who were shining lights in our lives. So often it’s death that reminds us that life and love are so precious that we should live each moment to the fullest and cherish those people in our lives that we can continue to be thankful for.

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

NNPA Exclusive: Bill Cosby Speaks from Prison

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ill Cosby broke his silence, granting his first exclusive interview since beginning his sentence at SCI-Phoenix, a maximum-security Pennsylvania penitentiary near Philadelphia.

In a special phone call with the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s BlackPressUSA.com, Cosby said he’s spending his time helping to teach and encourage a large group of African American inmates he calls residents – via Mann Up, a prison reform program.

The 82-year-old educator and awardwinning TV producer/director/comedian was sentenced to serve 3-to-10-years in Pennsylvania’s prison system following his September 2018 conviction on charges of aggravated indecent assault.

Unless he receives relief from the state’s appellate courts, Cosby said he fully anticipates serving his entire sentence, saying he’s not guilty and will never admit to something he didn’t do.

Displayed remorse is generally a required prerequisite to obtaining parole or a shortened sentence.

During the exclusive interview with NNPA, Cosby was candid, vivid and outspoken.

Andrew Wyatt, Cosby’s spokesman, was also on the call, where Cosby stressed that there would be no ground rules or restrictions. No topics were offthe-table for discussion.

Cosby received no special treatment from the facility for this interview.

Because inmates are only allowed to remain on phone calls for 15-minutes, Cosby had to call back multiple times in order to complete today’s interview.

“I have eight years and nine months left,” Cosby stated. “When I come up for parole, they’re not going to hear me say that I have remorse. I was there. I don’t care what group of people come along and

talk about this when they weren’t there.

They don’t know.”

He characterized his trials as a sham, unjust and not fair.

“It’s all a setup. That whole jury thing. They were imposters,” Cosby stated.

“Look at the woman who blew the whistle,” he said, alluding to the potential juror who overheard a seated juror proclaim before the trial that, “he’s guilty, we can all go home now.”

“Then she went in and came out smiling, it’s something attorneys will tell you is called a payoff,” Cosby stated. “I know what they’ve done to my people. But my people are going to view me and say, ‘that boy looks good. That boy is strong.’ I have too many heroes that I’ve sat with. Too many heroes whom I listened to like John Henrik Clarke, Kenneth Clark, and Dorothy Height. Those people are very strong, and they saw the rejection of their people. This is political. I can see the whole thing.”

“I am a privileged man in prison,” he stated.

During the call, Cosby referred to his small cell as “my penthouse.”

He revisited his famous 2004 “Pound Cake” speech and clarified that he probably should not have addressed that controversial dissertation to all African Americans — the residents at SCIPhoenix make for the perfect audience, Cosby stated.

Cosby said he remains concerned, however, for all of Black America.

“They are under siege. This thing with the drugs and the different pockets of the neighborhoods where it’s going on.

When you look at what drugs are doing… things that make these people drive around and shoot into crowds,” Cosby said.

“The insanity of what is the cause to

STACY M. BROWN NNPA Senior Correspondent

the brain by all the drugs these people are dealing with. It’s exactly what I warned them about in 2004. They’ve thrown education out the window.

“They’ve thrown respect for the family out the window, and they’re blaming each other for what’s going on. There is post-traumatic stress syndrome, and there are also bad manners.”

While inmates who spoke to NNPA Newswire said they were saddened to see an icon like Cosby imprisoned, each said they believe he’s serving a higher purpose. Cosby agreed.

“I don’t belong to the Mann Up Association, but it’s a privilege to come in and speak,” Cosby stated. “I never wanted them to lord me up (be put on a pedestal). This is a great privilege.”

A weekly highlight for Cosby since his incarceration has been the reform program, Mann Up, where he is often the featured speaker. The program serves to encourage and empower African American men to strive for self-respect and dignity, and to put their family first.

Anthony “Benny-Do” Sutton, Tyree Wallace, Robert Groves, and Michael Butler, each spoke from SCI-Phoenix to NNPA Newswire about the program and Cosby’s influence.

“Every Tuesday, Mr. Cosby and I sit down and talk before the other residents Bill Cosby continued to page 22

Kamala Harris Faces Uphill Battle With Growing Reports of A Struggling Campaign ith growing media reports that her campaign is on its last legs, Senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris spoke to a group of reporters to refute the claims last month.

“I am very supportive of my campaign, of the people who are working on it,’’ she told reporters at the California Democratic convention after her appearance at a live Univision presidential forum. “They’ve done great work which has gotten us to the point where we are today.”

The reports have largely stemmed from the closure of three of her four New Hampshire campaign offices, just one of the major campaign shakeups in the past month. According to a memo from campaign manager Juan Rodriguez to supporters and campaign staff, Harris would also be laying off staffers in her Baltimore headquarters while deploying staff from New Hampshire, Nevada and California to Iowa while also cutting costs to her campaign.

"In a field of 18 candidates, we face an incredibly competitive resource environment," Rodriguez said in the memo. "To effectively compete with the top campaigns L.A. Focus/December 2019

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and make the necessary investments in the critical final 100 days to the caucus, we need to reduce expenditures elsewhere and realign resources."

To cut costs Rodriguez will cut his salary, originally over $10,000 a month in the third quarter of the year, and consultants would also have their payments reduced. The changes, some claim, point to a continued struggle to keep up in the crowded Democratic field.

However, Harris stated that the changes were a signal of her campaign’s dedication to go all-in on Iowa.

“The cold hard reality of running for president is that it is really expensive and you gotta raise a lot of money and you have to make hard decisions….so we had to make a difficult decision about limited resources and where to put

them,” she said during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

She also denied claims that her campaign was “in meltdown” with a team in disarray and muddled campaign, as POLITICO reported.

“We have to focus on the real issues in front of us. We’ve got an impeachment hearing going on, we’ve got a criminal living in the White House, we’ve got immigrants who are afraid of leaving their homes. We’ve got the 2020 census coming up. … That’s where my head is focused.”

Various reports, however, remain focused on the conversation surrounding Harris on whether it is time for her to leave the presidential race.

Polls consistently show support in the single digits for Harris and reflect a sharp deflation of enthusiasm after a strong debate performance in June that placed her at the top of the pack with a 15 percent voter support peak. Five months later, however, those numbers saw her entering the next debate with 4.3 percent, according to RealClearPolitics polling averages. Additionally, California polls strongly predict she might not win or even place in her home state.

Early endorser Governor Gavin Kamala Harris continued to page 24

CBC Members Visit U.S Mexico Border to Highlight Mistreatment of Black Immigrants To call attention to the mistreatment of Black immigrants, Chairwoman Rep. Karen Bass led a delegation of Congressional Black Caucus members on a border trip to Tijuana, Mexico to meet with more than 30 migrants from African and African diaspora countries, The experience was frustrating she said and Bass urged Black America to rise up and demand an end to the trauma.

“There is an untold story woven into the crisis at the U.S-Mexico border,” the CBC said in a statement. “There are hundreds of immigrant from Afican countries fleeing violence, traveling for months on foot...only to find a broken system at the U.S-Mexico border blocking any further advancement.”

“We have to speak for them. They don’t have a voice,” said Congresswoman Yvette Clarke.

Famed Pastor/Gospel Singer, Rev. Clay Evans Passes Legendary gospel singer, legendary Chicagobased pastor and former friend to Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the Rev. Clay Evans, has passed at the age of 94. Evans, who passed on November 27 in Chicago, had served for 50 years as the Senior Pastor of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church which he founded while recording such classic gospel hits as “I’ve Got A Testimony” and “What He’s Done For Me.” “Rev. Clay Evans had a unique gift of encouragement for younger preachers like me when I began the ministry journey– a rare quality for his generation,” said Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church. “My life was never the same.”

“My gratitude will always be extended to Pastor Evans and the Fellowship Baptist Church Choir for recording songs from my pen,” said noted gospel composer, Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux. Pastor Evans and Fellowship’s recordings of “Move Mountains,” “High Praise” and “Count It All Joy” and many others, have become national favorites.”

Of his longtime friend, Rev. Jesse Jackson observed, “Today we stand in the wake of his life and his legacy ... and express our thanks to him,” said Rev. Jesse Jackson, a longtime friend. “There is a hole where our hearts used to be.”

Mark Ridley-Thomas Urges Bioscience Industry to Hire A Diverse Workforce At the 2nd Annual Bioscience Forum at Google’s Spruce Goose campus in playa Vista, Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas called on 250 medical and hi-tech innovators to diversify their workforce and reflect the city of LA. “That is your challenge, our challenge,” Ridley-Thomas said. “As your businesses grow and prosper in Los Angeles, all communities must participate in your success.”

In Los Angeles alone the industry is generating $42.5 billion in economic activity and with LA-based bioscience companies employing 91,000 persons, he emphasized the need for programs and efforts to hire more diverse workers not unlike his leadership’s.

Some efforts include pre-apprenticeship and registered apprenticeship programs preparing young people of color from disadvantaged communities for jobs in the industry. A new program called Bio-Flex has already sent some of its graduates to work at entry-level bioscience jobs. The first class of 39 graduates was honored by the Board of Supervisors last month.

Ridley-Thomas also celebrated the companies showcased at the forum. These companies developing medical technology will save lives, improve healthcare and generate jobs.

HeadToHead Why Byron Allen’s Supreme Court Case Matters

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he U.S. Supreme Court will mise, Allen’s channels are not ethniWhat’s at hear arguments today in a Stake in Byron cally or culturally diverse; he suit between Comcast and claimed the alleged race discriminaAllen’s Byron Allen, a prominent African tion was that, “but for” the fact that Supreme American programming executive. his channels are black-owned, his Court Case What began as a fairly routine telechannels would have been carried vision carriage dispute has turned into risky because Comcast was already carrying simgambit that may give the court’s conserva- ilar white-owned food and pet-themed chantive majority an opportunity to roll back fun- nels. His suit rejected Comcast’s defense damental civil rights protections. that its decision not to The lawsuit arose out of Comcast’s deci- carry his channels was sion several years ago not to carry several not racially motivated, Allen-owned television channels, such as saying that it had Pets.TV and Recipe.TV. Comcast has other non-racial reaargued its rejection of Allen’s channels was sons, such as better purely a business decision, reflecting what it ratings, higher-quality viewed as the channels’ limited audience programming, or other appeal. Allen then promptly filed a $20 bil- considerations for not lion lawsuit against Comcast, alleging that carrying the channels Maurita Coley the company’s refusal to contract with owned by Allen.

Allen’s company was racially motivated, in In any event, the parties were not able to violation of Section 1981 of the Civil Rights resolve their content carriage dispute, and Act of 1866. now this case, which started as a private District Court Judge Terry Hatter — a contract dispute, now puts at risk the civil well-respected African American judge with rights enjoyed by all Americans, because a an apparently strong record on civil rights — conservative Supreme Court majority hosdismissed the case three times, finding that tile to civil rights has a chance to fundamenAllen had not established a plausible argu- tally re-examine Section 1981. The court ment that Comcast would have contracted will get to decide — not just for this case, but with his company “but for” Allen’s race. in a precedent that will impact all future disAllen appealed to the 9th Circuit, which crimination cases — whether a plaintiff must remanded Judge Hatter’s dismissal with a prove that intentional race discrimination new guideline to the lower court that a was the decisive factor in a decision (the “but plaintiff can state a viable claim under for” standard of proof), or whether race just Section 1981 if discriminatory intent plays needs to be one factor in the decision (the any role in a defendant’s decision not to con- 9th Circuit’s “mixed motive” standard, tract, regardless of whether race discrimina- which civil rights leaders strongly support). tion was a “but for” cause of that decision.

If the Supreme Court gets to decide this Comcast petitioned the Supreme Court to case, it seems very likely that — at a minireview the 9th Circuit’s decision, and the mum — the court will choose the “but for” Supreme Court agreed; oral argument is standard that is currently used in most scheduled for Nov. 13, 2019. jurisdictions outside the 9th Circuit. That Carriage disputes between cable opera- would be a major setback to the civil rights tors like Comcast, and programming content community’s advocacy for establishing providers like Byron Allen, are exceedingly nationwide the 9th Circuit’s broader “moticommon. In my more than 30 years in the vating factor” standard. It’s even conceivindustry, I’ve represented both sides — net- able that this conservative Supreme Court works seeking distribution and distributors could go even farther, exploiting the facts of seeking content — and in the early days of Mr. Allen’s private contract claim to justify cable, I even represented minority-owned an even more regressive outcome by applydistributors such as Barden Cablevision of ing the “but for” standard in EEO retaliaDetroit, and minority-owned programmers tion, fair housing, voting rights, or other such as Black Entertainment Television. claims.

In my experience, this Comcast-Allen Civil rights groups such as NAACP have case doesn’t fit the usual framework for a jumped into this case, filing amicus briefs race discrimination case. As best I can sur- that seek to convince the court not to Maurita Coley continued to page 24

Headlines From Africa Botswane: Election results are being challenged after Botswana’s main opposition party filed petitions with the High Court in 16 districs that may strip the Botswana Democratic Party of 16 seats.

Congo: At least 39 people were killed in Congo’s capital of Kinshasa after torrential rains overnight flooded the city and caused at least three houses and a road to collapse into a ravine and landslides occurred near the University of Kinshasa.

Ethiopia: Ahead of its 2020 elections, Ethiopia’s ruling coalition has approved the merger of three of its four ethnic-based parties into a single national party as a part of the prime minister’s efforts to unite the country despite many ethnic groups demanding greater autonomy.

Kenya: At least 56 people were killed by landslides that were triggered by unusually heavy rains in northwestern Kenya that caused floods and mudslides that swept away four bridges and left the village of Muino inaccessible by road.

Libya: Airstrikes halted production at the country’s 70,000 barrels per day El Feel oilfield as forces retaliated after a rival group took control of the field, reigniting a conflict for control of large oil fields between competing military alliances.

Mali: 13 French troops were killed in a helicopter collision during an operation against jihadists in Mali making it the biggest single loss of life for the French military since the 1980s.

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he case, Comcast Corp. v. How heavy a bur- allege that race was a motivatNational Association of ing factor in Comcast’s refusal den does a PoCr African American Owned alleging discrimina- to contract.

Media and Entertainment tion have to carry?

Even though there may Studios Networks, is, on the have been other reasons that surface, a case about procedural issues. Comcast did not contract with Plaintiffs, Beneath the surface it is about the ease or the fact that it is a black company was a complexity a plaintiff may face when rais- motivating factor.

T h e ing claims of racial discrimination under District Court, which acts as a trial court 42 US 1981. in the federal court system, dismissed the Even though it Plaintiff’s complaint three times for failure has reached the to state a claim for which relief can be United States granted. It held that the Plaintiff’s comSupreme Court, proce- plaint failed to show that, but for racial durally, the lawsuit is discrimination, Comcast would have conin the beginning tracted with Plaintiff, and that Plaintiff stages, and the failed to allege that other companies that Supreme Court will be Comcast did in fact contract with were deciding whether the similarly situated to Plaintiff.

Falen O. Cox plaintiffs (Byron Allen However, Plaintiff appealed the company) may move forward in the legal District Court’s decision to the 9th Circuit process to have its “day in court” before a Court of Appeals which reversed the jury, or whether its suit should be dis- District Court’s rulings and held that missed before it reaches a jury or the Plaintiff could move forward with its lawinvestigatory process that we lawyers call suit. It denied Comcast’s motion for “discovery.” rehearing. Comcast filed a petition for cerIn this case, the National Association of tiorari in the United States Supreme African-American Owned Media and Court, which was granted.

Entertainment Studios Networks, Inc. (the Comcast argues that Plaintiff’s lawsuit “Plaintiffs”) filed suit against Comcast, should be dismissed because it alleges that Time-Warner Cable, the former FCC Plaintiff’s complaint was insufficient and Commissioner, the NAACP, the National that it did not allege “but for” causation or Urban League, the National Action refute what Comcast alleges are legitimate Network, and Reverend Al Sharpton alleg- business considerations for its refusal to ing that Comcast and the others conspired contract with Plaintiff. together to deny it a contract to carry its Comcast argues that it did not extend a network/television shows because it is a contract to Plaintiff’s as a result of legiti100% black-owned company. (Editor’s mate business practices. Comcast argues note: NAN, NUL, and NAACP each are no that Plaintiffs have failed to show that longer party to the lawsuit).

Comcast would have contracted with them However, the Court dismissed the suits but for Plaintiff’s race. against everyone except Comcast and Comcast points out that it had, within Time-Warner for lack of personal jurisdic- the same time period, considered contracttion, and the plaintiffs abandoned its argu- ing with ESN; that it had in fact contractment of conspiracy. ed with “Aspire” led by Earvin “Magic” At issue now, and before the United Johnson and Revolt TV led by Sean States Supreme Court, is whether “Diddy” Combs, which it claims has majorComcast, in refusing to contract with the ity or substantial African-American ownPlaintiff, is in violation of 42 USC 1981. ership. Additionally, Comcast alleges that More specifically, whether a plaintiff who it has carried two 100% black-owned netalleges discrimination in violation of 42 works, African Channel and Black Family USC 1981 must allege that racial discrim- Channel. ination was the but for cause of the refusal Lastly, Comcast argues that Plaintiff’s to contract: “But for the plaintiff’s race, case should be dismissed because Plaintiff Comcast would have contracted with the has failed to show that it was similarly sitplaintiff,” or whether the plaintiff may uated to the white-owned channels that it Falen O. Cox continued to page 24

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Namibia: Bernhardt Esau, the former Minister of Fisheries and a former senior manager of investment firm Investec, has been arrested on charges of corruption following allegations that he and his former client manager were involved in a fishing scheme that generated kickbacks of at least 150 million Namibian dollars.

Nigeria: Allen Onyema, the founder and CEO of Air Peace, one of Nigeria’s largest airlines, has been indicted by the United States Department of Justice on charges of bank fraud and money laundering after he allegedly moved more than $20 million from Nigeria through U.S bank accounts.

South Sudan: The United States’ State Department announced that the U.S has recalled its ambassador from South Sudan, Ambassador Thomas Hushek, after the leaders of formerly warring factions failed to agree on a unity government Tunisia: The state airline of Tunisia, Tunisair, plans to lay off 400 of its full-time employees in 2020 in hopes of easing financial difficulties at the state-owned airlines that have led to flight delays, declining services and the grounding of aircraft because of a lack of spare parts.

Zimbabwe: A crisis in Zimbabwe’s health sector has deepened after senior doctors at the country’s public hospitals went on strike to protest against the dismissal of junior colleagues who have boycotted work over pay for nearly three months.

MoneyMatters

On the Money

4thMVMT Trains Black Entrepreneurs For Success Through Social Equity he idea first sprouted after Karim Webb opened his second Buffalo Wild Wings store in Baldwin Hills. While turning it into a top producer for the restaurant chain, Webb realized his real purpose wasn’t measured in daily receipts.

“I realized I was investing in people. The cooks, the busboys, the waitress who was a single mom — these were more than employees,” said Webb. “These were people I had a responsibility to teach life skills and business principles to so maybe one day they could earn more than a paycheck by opening their own business.”

Now Webb’s portfolio includes four BWW franchises and his purpose is even bigger. He’s gearing up to take his peoplebuilding philosophy into one of the most dynamic and challenging business markets of the day: Legalized cannabis.

His vehicle is 4thMVMT, a social equity firm that identifies, trains and partners with would-be minority cannabis shop owners. His goal is to create a new generation of socially minded entrepreneurs who will become the vanguard of an economic transformation of underprivileged communities.

4thMVMT takes its name from the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s metaphor of the modern black struggle for equality as a symphony of four movements — the final being the fight for economic inclusion.

Tapping into today’s cannabis “green rush” for that bigger aim is classic Karim, said his friend and pastor Nisan Stewart.

“He cares about the inner city in ways that I never saw a person care,” said Stewart. “As a result, he hasn’t just started a cannabis company. He’s started something far beyond that — something that will help people from the inner city to become repaired and have an opportunity to participate in the economic future.”

In this fourth-movement moment, Webb believes that the hands of minority commerce must now carry the torch. Indeed, as the only black commission on the city’s Board of Airport Commissioners, he’s vowed to make sure minority businesses get their fair share of the $14 billion in LAX construction projects.

“We’ve had voting rights and black political representation for a while. These are absolutely crucial. Yet in terms of educational attainment, household income and health problems, we’re not doing better, we’re doing worse,” he says.

“In order to reverse that, we need something more. We need access to resources, to money. And cannabis licenses provide that access.”

Accordingly, 4thMVMT focuses on “social equity” licenses, which are set aside for applicants living in minority communities that were disproportionately victimized by America’s “War on Drugs.”

Los Angeles, for example, has allotted

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its first 100 licenses for social equity purposes. But Webb argues giving people with limited education or business experience only sets them up to fail.

“Without addressing this capacity gap, we’re setting the stage for predatory actors like large cannabis companies to swoop in and pick off these licenses for cents on the dollar from overwhelmed store owners.”

4thMVMT aims to bridge that gap by providing a “360degree system that clears all the personal and professional obstacles” for success.

The process starts with an intensive vetting of potential applications by interview panels that include community leaders; a 12-week personal development and business training course; and a competition where candidates present business plans for theoretic nonprofits.

Those who make the cut become 81% majority partners and co-applicants with 4thMVMT for social equity licenses.

Once a license is granted, 4thMVMT will assist its coapplicant with hiring, negotiate bulk pricing on products and do the accounting. It also identifies and leases stores, which are strategically chosen in affluent white areas.

Webb said 4thMVMT-associated stores, called “Sixty Four & Hope,” will be opened in places like Santa Monica for several reasons. It give the new cannabis retail outlets the best chance of success while making them conduits for transferring wealth back into underprivileged neighborhoods.

“We’ve had enough folks that come to our community from Calabasas or Glendale or Alhambra. They open a liquor store and they take the money back to their community and beautify it. We need to reverse that flow of capital.”

And if partners find it difficult to cope with success, 4thMVMT provides additional support through counseling at USC’s School of Social Work and an outside statistical consultant to track changes in spending.

“These are people who might be making $20,000 in manual labor all of a sudden earning $245,000 in the first year and $400,000 by the third,” said Webb.

“That’s like hitting the lottery and we all know the stories of what happens to lottery winners who don’t know how to handle that kind of money.”

So far, 4thMVMT candidates have snagged 11 Los Angeles invoices for temporary licenses, which should be issued by the end of the year. The firm has also identified 31 applicant-partners in Chicago.

Webb’s dream of an enlightened minority entrepreneurial class extends beyond cannabis. Once the 4thMVMT model is perfected, he plans to replicate it in other industries.

“Entrepreneurship isn’t industry specific,” he said. “It’s a spirit and with that spirit we can finally write the fourth movement of our community’s struggle.”

Ranking the Best Value Colleges in California With households now sitting on $14 trillion in various forms of debt including mortgages, credit cards and student loans, the debt crisis in the United States has reached a new record. Students loans, in particular, have become a national talking point as presidential hopefuls introduce new proposals to solve the growing crisis and student loans climb 1.4% to $1.5 trillion this year.

In California, the cost of college can be crushing as students in the Golden State graduate with an average of more than $20,000 in debt. To that end, graduating high schoolers must look for the colleges in the state that provide the highest return on investment. Listed below–according to Payscale–are the top 10.

In first place, the private college Harvey Mudd (total 4-year cost $272,000) sees graduates with an average loan amount of $25,500 achieve a 20year net return on investment worth $978,000. In other words, the difference between the 20-year median pay for a bachelor’s grad and the 24-year median pay for a high school grad minus the total 4-year cost was nearly $1 million dollars.

The private California Institute of Technology ranked second with a 4-year cost of $250,000 and a 20-year net return on investment of $887,000.

Harvey Mudd and CalTech alumni earn so much thanks to their reputation as competitive schools and graduates that focus almost exclusively on science, engineering and math degrees that lead to high-paying jobs such as engineers.

The California Maritime Academy was third with an ROI of $837,000 and Stanford came in fourth with an ROI of $811,000.

UC-Berkeley (In-State), California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo (In State), UCBerkeley (Out-of-State), CalPoly-San Luis Obispo (Out-of-State), and UC-San Diego (In-State) took 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th respectively.

Cal Tech

Biz News Briefs Serena Williams, the legendary tennis athlete has announced a new project and addition to her style empire.

Her latest news is the release of a new luxury line of gold and silver jewerly that also features ethicly mined diamonds along with her favorite motif: hearts.

“I am obsessed with hearts,” she tells Vogue. “If you go back and look at photos, pretty much all my matches–99% of the time–you see me wearing some sort of heart necklace.”

The line has launched with 70 pieces ranging in prace from $299 to $10,000.

“Inspired by the strong women in my life, this diamond jewelry collection has been a vision of mine for a long time and bringing it to life has been a spectacular experience,” Williams said in an Instagram post celebrating the official launch.

Other projects currently in the works for Williams includes evolving her relationship with

L.A. Focus/December 2019

Serena Williams Launches New Jewerly Line

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sponsor Nike. She recently launched Serena Design Crew, a seven-month apprenticeship which kicked off with a design challenge at Nike’s Beaverton, Colo. headquarters.

The apprenticeship to find new, diverse design talents and to encourage more diversity within Nike.

to empower youth and communities in need.

Most recently, Jay-Z announced in April a partnership with Toyota for the annual black college bus tour that gives students the opportunity to visit several historically black colleges and universities around the country.

Jay-Z Raises $6 Million for Education at Inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala

Black Opal’s New Owners Aquire Legacy Cosmetics Brand for Women of Color

“Tonight, the Shawn Carter Foundation Gala raised $6 million toward funding post-secondary educational opportunities for future scholars. Thank you to all patrons and supporters for this successful night,” the Shawn Carter Foundation announced on Twitter.

Hip-hop billionaire Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter hosted the inaugural Shawn Carter Foundation Gala on November 15 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The event featured a black-tie gala, silent and live auctions, a blackjack tournament and a performance by Grammy Award-winning singer Alicia Keys.

Some notable guests included Jay-Z’s wife Beyoncé, Normani, rappers Meek Mill, Fat Joe and Yo Gotti; comedian Michael Blackson; producer DJ Khaled; NFL owner Robert Kraft; Tyler Perry and several other stars that contributed to the fundraiser.

Founded as a public charity in 2003 by Jay-Z and his mother, Gloria Carter, the foundation supports initiatives

Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack, the recent new owners of the popular brown skin girl makeup brand Black Opal, are keeping busy.

Their latest move is the purchase of the legacy cosmetics brand, Fashion Fair Cosmetics.

Founded in 1973, the brand was one of the largest Black-owned cosmetics companies in the world. The two will now have majority ownership of brand after the purchase of Fashion Fair from Johsnon Publishing Company.

“Fashion Fair is just too valuable for our community to lose. We plan to modernize the brand and product, but will remain true to the companu’s roots, which was to create prestige products focused on women of color,” Desiree Rogers explained in the press release.

“We want to know which of our products are favorites amongst members of our community and what other products they would like to see from the brand. This conversation will be important as we breathe new life into this iconic brand,” added McKissack.

www.lafocusnewspaper.com FREE YOUTH SERVICES (AGES 10-15) Must be present in the Southwest 1 area (live in it, go to school in it or spend most of your time)

Community Build Youth Development Center 4305 Degnan Boulevard, Suite 102 • L.A. 90008 (323) 596-2277

• FREE TUTORING • YOUTH AND FAMILY DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES • YOUTH EMPLOYMENT AND INTERNSHIPS • LIFE AND SOCIAL SKILLS • INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING and YOUTH SUPPORT GROUPS • PARENT AND GUARDIAN EMPOWERMENT RESOURCES • LIMITED TRANSPORTATION Some of our current youth are involved in the Mayor’s Youth Council, Sports Programs, Dance & Music Programs, LAPD Programs, Global travel for youth, College Prep, Martial Arts and much more…

The Youth Center is open 9:30am – 7:00pm Monday – Thursday and 9:30 – 1:00 pm Friday *Parents/Guardians must sign a “Parent Consent” form and return it to the Youth Development Center. Youth will be scheduled for an assessment as part of the eligibility process. Please bring proof of youth’s age and *residence documentation.

This is a Gang Reduction and Youth Development Program funded by the City of Los Angeles Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD).

Community Build is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

W

L.A. Focus/December 2019

hen he began his Sunday services in the hills behind his Calabasas home– and even at Coachella before an estimated crowd of 50,000 on Easter Sunday, Kanye West might have been unceremoniously written off by the mainstream faith community.

Many viewed the services – which attracted the likes of Katy Perry, Brad Pitt and David Letterman– with skepticism, thinking even less of West’s alliance with Trump and some of the controversial statements–be it calling himself a God (and nicknaming himself “Yeezus”) 10 or characterizing slavery as a choice.

So much so that little took what West was doing all that seriously. Hardly a revelation for the 42-year old rapper, who wrote of Christians in a track from his recenlty released “Jesus Is King” album: “They’ll be the first one to judge me / Make it feel like nobody love me.”

But in the last few months, with high profile appearances at mainstream churches like New Birth in Atlanta, Howard University, Chicago’s Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church, Greater Allen AME in New York and most recently at Joel Osteen’s Houston megachurch, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to write off West and the growing movement he appears to have inspired.

And while the services may have started as a combination of prayer, gospel, remixed Kanye tracks, revamped R&B hits like Stevie Wonder’s As and classic hymns to West’s musical arrangements, it has evolved to include messages and speakers.

Unconfirmed reports are that over 1,000 had committed their lives to Christ, that searches for “What do Christians believe?” have spiked on google and though his “Jesus Is King” album is laced with scripture and Bible references, it soared to number one of the album charts with every single landing on Billboard’s Hot 100.

Due to high interest in Christianity since the October 25 release of the album, the American Bible Society has given away 11,000 free Bibles.

“He reaches people that we will never reach in the church world,” Osteen told ABC after West’s high-profile appearance at his Houston church.

Simply put, for all those who wanted to write him off, not only have the services had staying power and outgrown the hills outside his Calabasas home, but they seemed to be igniting a larger Jesus movement among an exploding number of millennials as appearances at the Forum and the premiere of his Nebuchadnezzar opera at the Hollywood Bowl have shown.

Yet, for all of the skepticism about West’s services and church appearances, what is not up for debate

I believe that Kanye West has had a conversion experience. I think he has recommitted his life to the Christ his mother introduced him to and have no question that he is genuine in his relationship with Jesus Christ. What I do think is that Kanye’s politics— this whole thing with Trump— are overshadowing the message, particularly as it relates to the black church and I think Kanye needs to separate the two, if he can. Finally, what I would say is that unfortunately, Kanye West is to the church what a 12-gauge shotgun is to a ten-year old. He’s a baby in Christ and a baby in Christ leading people is dangerous...

Left: Kanye West is greeted by Bishop I.V. Hilliard, wife Bridget Hilliard and Pastor Jamal Bryant (right) at Atlanta’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church; Right: Kim Kardashian and Kanye West with their three children, baby daughter Chicago,two-year-old son Saint and four-year-old daughter North. A fourth child, Psalm, was born in May.

among most is the sincerity with which West has embraced his rebirth and given his life over to Christ, the proof of which can be seen in everything he does from his ninth studio album to its companion IMAX movie.

“Now that I’m in service to Christ, my job is to spread the gospel, to let people know what Jesus has done for me,” said Kanye in an interview with Apple Music’s Beats, later adding that everything that he does now is “for the church.”

In his efforts to be more Christlike, the rapper is reportedly abstaining from profanity in his lyrics, has asked his wife to dress more modestly and requested that his “Jesus Is King” production crew to abstain from premarital sex while working on the album.

"There was a time I was letting, you know, what high fashion had done for me. I was letting, you know, what the Hennessy had done for me," West shared. "But now I’m letting, you know, what Jesus has done for me, and in that I’m no longer a slave. I’m a son now, a son of God. I’m free."

Diagnosed bi-polar, West has said that it was with his mother’s passing in 2007 that he drowned himself in addiction–to sex, pornography, money, clothes, cars, social media and all that came with the fast life. In a 2018 interview with Charlamagne tha God, he attributed his 2016 mental breakdown and subsequent hospitalization to liposuction, opioid use and his wife Kim Kardashian’s Paris robbery.

With God, he says he’s been able to beat those things that once had full control of him. That–and his radical obedience to Christ– is part of the message he hopes will resonate with his 29.4 million followers on social media and those who attend the services.

Nisan Stewart, Pastor of Greater Emmanuel Temple in Lynwood and a renowned drummer in the hip-hop and gospel world, knows first-hand of West’s transformation.

Stewart–who has worked with Timbaland, Missy Elliot, and Diddy, and served as the musical director for Jamie Foxx and 50 Cent–is hopeful for all that is happening with West.

“What God is doing in Kanye’s life is amazing,” Stewart said. “A few friends of mine, along with some singers from my church are part of The Samples (the choir) and I support them 100%. This is a fresh journey for Kanye. I believe what he needs is our prayers as he walks this walk. Remember, we didn’t get everything right in the beginning of our journey, so let’s administer the same grace we needed, and still need as well.”

In fact, resurrecting his faith may have been a great deal more simple than his public standing given his erratic actions and very public mental breakdown along with his political beliefs and the controversial statements like the idea of legally changing his name to "Christian Genius Billionaire Kanye West after Forbes estimated his net worth at $240 million and not the billion he believes he’s worth. There’s also that run he hinted at for the presidency in 2024.

“The intersection of my Blackness and my faith is too sacred and holy to listen to a Trump lover who routinely disrespects my ancestors,” one theologian posted on Twitter.

West admitted at a Chicago listening party that for years he was lost, scared and too self-contained to realize he wasn’t living a healthy life, detached from the word of God. He even regretted calling himself Yeezus.

Religion and his relationship with God–or desire for one–has been a recurrent theme in West’s music since his

2004 debut album, College Dropout, which featured Jesus Walks, a bold profession of his belief in Jesus and the desire for God to show him the way.

“I know that God’s been calling me for a long time and the devil’s been distracting me for a long time,” West told a crowd of more than 17,000 at Osteen’s Lakewood Church.

“When I was in my lowest points, God was there with me and sending me visions and inspiring me, and I remember sitting in the hospital at UCLA after having a mental breakdown and there’s documentation of me drawing a church and [wanting to] start a church.

“All of that arrogance and cockiness that y’all have seen from me, God is now using for him,” said West who now freely believes the only superstar to be Jesus.

“Jesus has won the victory. Now the greatest artist that God has ever created is now working for him,” he added.

While few in the faith community discount his faith journey, they do take issue with his politics and his “church leadership.”

“I believe that Kanye West has had a conversion experience. I think he has recommitted his life to the Christ his mother introduced him to and I have no doubt that he is genuine in his relationship with Jesus Christ,” observed Shane Scott, senior pastor of Macedonia Baptist Church.

“What I do think is that Kanye’s politics– this whole thing with Trump– are overshadowing the message, particularly as it relates to the black church and I think Kanye needs to separate the two, if he can.”

(Just last month Pastor Jamal Bryant branded West a “sellout” for his endorsement of Trump one week after hosting West at his Atlanta-based New Birth Missionary Baptist Church).

“Finally,” Scott adds, “what I would say is that unfortunately, Kanye West is to the church what a 12-gauge shotgun is to a ten-year old. He’s a baby in Christ and a baby in Christ leading people is dangerous.”

Adds Michael Fisher, “Some of those who may not agree with Kanye do so because what they see conflicts with what the Word of God tells us a Christian movement is supposed to look like. According to Paul’s writings, the original church wasn’t led by singing, but instead by the preaching of the word of God. Specifically, Peter, Paul, and the apostles purely preached the cross–Jesus Christ crucified and the need to be baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit and they were consistent in preaching the concept of coming out from the world, being transformed and then renewed.

“So where are the sacred ordinances of the church– baptism, salvation, etc.? People supporting Kanye and participating in his Sunday Services should understand that the Bible not only gives us leeway to ask questions, but Jude 3 tells us that we should “contend for the faith.”

It’s reasonable and should be acceptable to challenge certain thought processes, refusing to just take these services at face value because Kanye’s name is attached.”

Pastor George Hurtt takes a much simpler stance on the issue, noting, “Remember the advice of Gamaliel in Acts 5:35-39. He said in essence if it’s from God you can’t stop it, but if it is not it will fail.”.

What has Hurtt more concerned are the motives of some faith leaders coming forward to embrace West.

“Not only should we keep our mouth off of him and pray for his spiritual growth or genuine salvation, more importantly, that preachers that are given an opportunity to minister to him will not misuse it in attempts to benefit

personally from his celebrity.”

Pastor K. W. Tulloss, president of the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship and senior pastor of the Historical Weller Street Baptist Church, agrees.

“I really enjoy the rebirth of Kanye and how gospel music has been his therapy in dealing with the emotional and psychological problems and mental health problems he’s had. My only concern is how he’s catering to a lot of self-serving popular ministries and them using him because of his name to pack their pews. I was very alarmed from Jamal’s response and how he distanced himself after Kanye left his church.”

Superstar converts are hardly an anomaly in the black church, as are no shortage of those looking to capitalize on the notoriety that comes with aligning with the likes of West to expand their own brand.

“I’m not sure people really love Kanye,” Christian hiphop rapper Sho Baraka, told the Washington Post. “They love the idea of him and how they can use him for their particular wars and agenda.”

“It’s no secret that American’s evangelical culture is fame/popularity driven”, Derwin L. Gray, former NFL player turned pastor of Transformation Church near Charlotte observed. “It has the propensity to use people instead of to develop people.”

Some question the sale of merchandise like his $170 Jesus Is King sweatshirts and albums at the services, with Wake Forest Divinity School dean Jonathan L. Walton stating of West and Osteen, “Both have baptized their commercial notoriety and their financial gains in Jesus’ name. The communion table has become a merch table.”

Those like Tulloss urge people to focus more on the message than the messenger.

“Kanye knows he has a Narcissistic personality, but he is on a new pilgrimage in life and it’s up to us as the faith community to continue to support the positive work he’s set out to do for the kingdom,” Tulloss states. “I know some in the faith community feel that he’s doing this for self-gain, but I’m praying for him and hope that the thousands attending his events find the services as an outlet to accept Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.”

Apostle Beverly “Bam” Crawford agrees.

“I am so glad he’s reaching young people and that the gospel is being shared in an unorthodoxed way. While people might be coming for the music, they’re getting salvation. I think the church is sometimes too traditional and too religious. We forget that you cannot put God in a box.

I believe the future will reveal church done differently than what we’re used to and people who have a difficult time changing will have a difficult time in the future.

“Kanye West has admitted that he was lost for years in the hype of fame, success and mental illness, which serves to remind us that we should be supporting mental health within our congregations. I pray for him and support him.”

West movement has not only caught on with millennials but seems to be gaining traction with some pretty big names in hip hop as well judging by the likes of those who’ve signed on to work with him, including Timbaland, Pusha T and No Malice, Kid Cudi (with whom he just released an album), Ty Dolla $ign and Kenny G. And on the heels of his top selling “Jesus Is King album is Jesus is King Part II, on which he will collaborate with Dr. Dre. To that end, the rapper is thankful On "God Is," a track from Jesus is King, West writes, "This my kids, this the crib / This my wife, this my life / This my God-given right. "Thank you, Jesus, won the fight.

Game Changers Michael Weinstein

C

alifornia Proposition 64 landed on the ballot in 1986 and reflected yet another of the many dark moments during the AIDS epidemic across the United States. At the height of the anti-gay and ill-informed campaign against the growing crisis, the proposition would have placed AIDS onto California’s list of communicable diseases and would have forced anyone HIV-positive into quarantine.

It was also the defining moment for President of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), Michael Weinstein and the impetus to starting the organization.

“We worked to defeat that initiative— Prop 64—and then after that we felt like, well had stopped something bad from happening but people were literally dying in the hallways of the county hospital and we felt like, ‘Okay, we stopped something bad from happening but now we need to try to make something good happen’ in terms of the care that people needed,” Weinstein shares.

Today, AHF is the largest global AIDS organization serving over 1,000,00 people across the United States, Africa, Latin America, Asia and Eastern Europe in 43 countries. The global nonprofit, based in Los Angeles, has been at the helm of various initiatives that center and advocate for patients.

“We’re seeing more than half the people living with HIV in the world now being treated,” he celebrated. “When we started treating in Africa in 2002 only 50,000 people were being treated. Now there's more than 20 million people being treated world-

It wasn’t like we had a grand plan to do all these things. We responded to a need we saw. wide. So that's one objective of ours: to stay the course, stay in the effort and make sure we sort of march to victory controlling HIV” In 1987, when AHF was founded as the AIDS Hospice Foundation, advocacy looked like providing housing and medical services to the terminally ill patients through hospice care. Patients, treated like lepers and abandoned by family and the government, were able to find a loving home in their final weeks.

What started as a single hospice in Los Angeles for 25 people has grown into a remarkable and inspiring network that may seem unbelievable but reflects the dedication and tirelessness of Weinstein and his staff.

“Sometimes people see an organization like ours and they think somehow we were born with a silver spoon in our mouth when in actuality the entire budget for the first year of the organization was only $50,000,” he explained. “I know it sounds like an impossible story, but I used to go around with a clipboard and a coffee can to different meetings and ask for support that way.”

Gathering those resources and recruiting the people needed to run AHF at the start was one of those major challenges at the start of AHF. At the time, Weinstein

was creating this organization was also trying to overcome the incredible obstacles AIDS activists and advocates were forced to face.

“In the larger sense, the challenge was a critical situation which was that there was indifference on the part of the government to the plight of people living with AIDS,” he recalled. “Basically, there were no expenditures of any kind for care was the starting point. The starting point was discrimination and stigma. But…we’ve come incredibly long ways in that regard.”

It was that indifference that shaped AHF into the direct service provider it is today. Even if that wasn’t what Weinstein and AHF set out to do.

“It wasn’t like we had a grand plan to do all these things,” he said. “We responded to a need we saw.”

A new need has AHF once again shifting to provide housing.

“We saw a desperate situation not dissimilar to what we saw with AIDS which was people literally doing on the streets. We saw our patients becoming homeless, we saw our employees moving further and further away and we saw government inaction and indifference,” he explained.

In response, AHF birthed the Healthy Housing Foundation. To start, the organization purchased the Madison Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles to refurbish and provide affordable rental units, approximately $400

per month. Now, the Healthy Housing Foundation has bought a total of seven hotels that total about 728 rooms all in the span of two years.

It’s an accomplishment Weinstein is proud of especially because the organization was able to do it “at one fifth of the price of what Los Angeles is spending to do it” and at a fraction of the time.

For example, Proposition HHH, the 2016 bond measure that was supposed to fund 10,000 new units of housing for the homeless, has been largely marked as a failure. Nearly three years after voters passed the proposition zero supportive housing units have opened.

“It’s obvious that when it comes to housing, the current policies are not sustainable,” shared Weinstein. “There’s very little leadership for the people being forced out of their homes…It’s not just a question about having a roof over your head, it’s having community support.”

As it relates to housing AHF hopes to continue expanding their housing program throughout the state even as government efforts lag behind in response to the growing homeless crisis. To do so, AHF believes success will come by breaking the approach into “3 Ps”: Prevent, Preserve and Produce.

Prevent by supporting rent control, preserve by focusing continued to page 24

Calendar of events

Ongoing Exhibit: L.A Blacksmith (Thru February 16, 2020) Exhibit examining how the Watts Rebellion and other political/aesthetic ideas shaped metalwork.

Tues-Sat: 10am — 5pm; Sun: 11am — 5pm Free/Parking $12) California African American Museum (CAAM) 600 State Drive Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org On Stage: August Wilson’s “Jitney” (Through December 29) Check prices/showtimes The Mark Taper Forum 135 N. Grand Ave centertheatregroup.org Queen Mary Christmas: Lights, Santa, Carolers, Ice Rink and More Through January 1 Times Vary • $29+ 1126 Queens Highway Long Beach Contact: (877) 600-4313 www.queenmary.com

Sunday, December 1 Sheryl Lee Ralph Presents 29th Annual Divas Simply Singing (Lineup includes Deborah Cox, Chrissy Metz and more)

5PM • $75 - $500 Taglyan Cultural Center 1201 Vine Street thedivafoundation.com

Monday, December 2 Screening: Dolemite Is My Name: Eddie Murphy Q&A 7:30pm • $20 Hammer Museum 10899 Wilshire Blvd Contact: (310) 443-7000 www.hammer.ucla.edu

Thursday, December 5 On Stage: “Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” (Thru December 8) Debbie Allen’s take on the holiday classic with Raven-Symoné and more Times Vary • $40-$110 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Bl www.thehotchocolatenutcracker.com UCLA Community Health Event: Back, Hip, Arm and Leg Pain Discuss common causes of back, hip, arm, leg pain and treatment options 4:00 — 5:30pm • Free Santa Monica YMCA 1332 4th Street Contact: (800) 516-5323 connect.uclahealth.org

7:30pm • Prices Vary The Forum 3900 W. Manchester Blvd Call: (212) 465-6000 msg.com/the-forum

Friday, December 6 Brotherhood Crusade Pioneer of African American Achievement Award Gala 6:30—11pm • $1000 Beverly Hilton Hotel 9876 Wilshire Boulevard brotherhoodcrusade.org Kirk Whalum’s 8th Annual A Gospel According to Jazz Christmas Concert 8:00—11:00pm • $45 West Angeles Church 3045 Crenshaw Blvd. www.westa.org In Concert: Fantasia with Special Guests Robin Thicke & Bonfyre 8:00pm • $59-$125 Microsoft Theatre 777 Chick Hearn Ct microsofttheater.com

World AIDS Day 2019: Highlighting Women of Color Living with HIV/STDs 9:00am—12:30pm • Free 900 W. Exposition Blvd tinyurl.com/wadwoc2019

Saturday, December 7 In Concert: DeJohnette/ Coltrane/Garrison 8PM • $39 - $79 Royce Hall UCLA 10745

Trevor Noah’s Loud and Clear Tour 8:00pm • $39-$125 Staples Center 111 S. Figueroa St Info: (888) 929-7849 staplescenter.com KIIS-FM Jingle Ball (Lineup includes Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Lizzo, Normani and French Montana

Dickson Court Contact: (310) 825-2101 roycehall.org

Monday, December 9 A Conversation with Morris Day & David Ritz on the making of the new memoir, On Time: A Princely Life in Funk 7:00pm • $30 Grammy Museum 800 W. Olympic Blvd.

Contact: (213) 765-6800 grammymuseum.org

Tuesday, December 10 UCLA Community Health Event: Fall Prevention 2:00—3:30pm • Free Collins & Katz YMCA 1466 S. Westgate Ave Contact: (800) 516-

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Saturday, December 7 Wendy Raquel Robinson’s Amazing Grace Conser-vatory Presents “Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory” (Featured alumni includes Issa Rae and Aldis Hodge) (Through Sunday) 2:30PM/7PM • $25 (In advance) $30 (at door) Southwest College • 1600 W. Imperial Hwy Info: (323) 732-4283 Amazinggraceconservatory.org

L.A. Focus/December 2019

Regina King at the LACMA Art + Film Gala last month.

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e nce at th appeara carpet. n a e d red a ma Zenday Awards Choice People’s

glamorous on the red Kelly Rowland looked ple’s Choice Awards carpet for 2019’s Peo nica last month.

Mo nta Sa hosted in

(L-R) Ali cia Ether edg actress M arla Gibb e-Brown, D.L Hu ghley, Bobbi Kri s and Bob stina Ser enity Hou by Brown at the se 2nd An and Golf nual Gala Tournam ent

Ella Balinska at the premiere of her new film, “Charlie’s Angels” last month.

Queen & Slim stars Jodie TurnerSmith (far left) and Daniel Kaluuya are joined by director Melina Matsoukas (in green) and screenwriter/producer/actress Lena Waithe (far right) at the premiere of the film at the 2019 AFI Fest in Los Angeles last month.

5323 connect.uclahealth.org UCLA Community Health Event: Basic Diabetes Nutrition Group Class Certified class on how to plan satisfying meals to maintain healthy blood sugar. Physician referral required.

9:00—11:00am • Free 2020 Santa Monica Blvd.

Contact: diabeteseducation@mednet.ucla.edu or (310) 794-1299 Workshop: How to Increase Your Credit Score 6-8PM • Free Vermont Slauson Economic Development Corp 1130 W. Slauson Avenue Info: (323) 753-2335 Vsedc.org In Concert: Freda Payne 8PM • Show Cover: $30 Vibrato Jazz Grill 2930 Beverly Glen Circle Contact: (310) 474-9400 www.vibratogrilljazz.com

7-9PM • Free/Parking $12) California African American Museum (CAAM) 600 State Drive Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org In Concert: Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr. “A Solid Gold Christmas” (Through Sunday) Check times and prices Catalina Jazz Club 6725 Sunset Blvd Contact: (323) 466-2210 www.catalinajazzclub.com

Saturday, December 14 66th Annual Compton Christmas Parade 11:00am — 1:00pm • Free Compton Blvd — Bullis Rd to Alameda St. www.comptoncity.org In Concert: Colors of Christmas 8pm •$55-$100 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts 12700 Center Court Drive Contact: (562) 916-8500 www.cerritoscenter.com

Plaza (Features: snow sledding, food trucks, musical performances, photo booth, S’mores bar, giveaways and more) 3PM -7PM • Free 3650 W. King Blvd Info: (323) 290-6636 www.baldwinhillscrenshawplaza.com

music shakers from recycled materials 1PM — 3PM • Free Admission (Parking = $12) California African American Museum 600 State Drive Contact: (213) 744-7432 http://caamuseum.org

57th Annual Marina Del Rey Holiday Boat Parade 5:55—6pm Fireworks 6— 8pm Boat Parade • Free Burton Chace Park 13650 Mindanao Way Marina Del Rey https://mdrboatparade.org/

The Willow & Erys Tour (Jaden & Willow Smith) 8PM • $35 - $145 The Novo 800 W Olympic Blvd Contact: (213) 765-7015 www.thenovodtla.com

Sunday, December 15 The 2nd Annual Christmas In Watts: A Musical Presentation Host: Pastor Shane Scott 6PM • Free Macedonia Baptist Church 1751 E. 114th Street Contact: (323) 569-9561 macedonia-la.org

Thursday, December 19

Friday, December 20 Concert: The Soul of Anita Baker Farewell Concert 8:00pm • $49-$79 Staples Center 111 S. Figueroa St Contact: (888) 929-7849 www.staplescenter.com In Concert: Dianne Reeves 8PM • $124 - 398 Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Avenue Info: (323) 850-2000 Laphil.com

Saturday, December 21 Special Needs Network’s 11th Annual Christmas Care Exchange and Lunch with Santa Free holiday celebration including resources, music and toy giveaway 10:00am — 2:00pm • Free (Registration required) 2291 E. 121 St. Willowbrook www.snnla.org

Monday, December 23 In Concert: CeCe Winans 8PM • $98 - 398 Disney Concert Hall 111 S. Grand Avenue Info: (323) 850-2000 Laphil.com

Tuesday, December 24 60th Annual L.A County Holiday Celebration Emmy-nominated holiday show featuring music ensembles, choirs, and dance companies from around the city.

3:00—6:00pm • Free (First come, first seated) Dorothy Chandler Pavilion 135 N Grand Avenue Contact: (213) 972-7211

around los angeles Friday, December 13 A Conversation with Michael Eric Dyson

“A Winter Wonderland” at Baldwin Hills Crenshaw

CAAM Makers Fest Features maker stations.

Create relief portraits; embellish clothing with retro cartoons; and create

Name, Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas, Vanessa Bell Calloway and [Name] at the celeb ration for Mark Ridley-Thomas’ 65th Birthday.

miere of “Queen & Rihanna at the pre 19 in Hollywood.

Slim” at AFI Fest 20

se Witherspoon Octavia Spencer and Ree uthBe Told.”

“Tr of re joined the premie

www.musiccenter.org/

Friday, December 27 “Twas My Life After Christmas: The Musical”

by Pastor Shep Crawford Featuring a citywide gospel choir 7PM • $25 The Tabernacle (at Faithful Central) 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave RSVP: Twasmylife.eventbrite.com Drumline Live Holiday Spectacular 8:00pm • $60-$85 Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts 12700 Center Court Drive Contact: (562) 916-8500 www.cerritoscenter.com

Wednesday, January 1 Mt. Moriah’s Annual Prayer Bowl Lineup includes some of the city & nation’s top preachers Free • 9am — 4PM Mt. Moriah MBC 4269 S. Figueroa Street Info: (323) 846-1950

Bobby Brown Jr, Bobby Brown, Alicia Etheredge-Brown, La ndon Brown and Bobby and Alicia’s thr ee children at Bobbi Kristina Sereni ty House 2nd Annual Gala and Golf Tournament.

15

Eye On Gospel Kathy Taylor Returns With New Music Renowned songwriter, singer and beloved gospel artist Kathy Taylor returns with an all-new song “God Is With Us.” This new single featuring her vocal ensemble Favor, is their first in 10 years and advances their forthcoming album, Confidence.

Taylor, well-regarded as one of Gospel music’s standards, consistently offers tried and true Gospel music that is both effectual and relevant. An accomplished Minister of Music, songwriter, producer, and community activist, Taylor's music, and the message she eloquently sings about inspires, uplifts, and heals the spirit and soul of mankind. This is most evident on the new song “God Is With Us,” a solemn, and reverent ballad. Available digitally today, “God Is With Us, serves as an essential reminder of God’s constant faithfulness, and love.

This on-time song is exactly what is needed for today’s culture.

“Wherever you are in life; or whatever you have going on … even when you feel alone, this song reminds us that God is here always,” said Kathy. The stirring track is a classic sounding song, impacting radio this week, is both hymn-like and operatic giving it a special and dramatic feel. “God Is With Us,” will be the first single off of her upcoming album Confidence slated for a 2020 release.

The Clark Sisters Release First Single in Advance of Forthcoming TV Biopic and New Album Last month, Karew Entertainment in partnership with Motown Gospel announced that the newest single, "Victory", from the legendary Clark Sisters, is available

now on Apple Music! The song –written by Karen Clark Sheard and her son J. Drew Sheard (who also produced it)– is the first single from the forthcoming album set to be released in spring 2020. Producers on the highly anticipated project include gospel heavyweights Kirk Franklin, Donald Lawrence, Warryn Campbell, Rodney Jerkins, Kurt Carr, and Mano Haines.

The Clark Sisters are the highest-selling female Gospel group in history with over 20 albums to their credit.

Their biopic, executive produced by Mary J. Blige, Missy Elliott, and Queen Latifah is set to premiere nationally on Lifetime on Easter Sunday 2020.

The cast is set to include Shelea Frazier as Dorinda, Raven Goodwin as Denise, Angela Birchett as Jacky, Christina Bell as Twinkie and Kierra Sheard who will portray real life mom, Karen Clark Sheard. Rounding out the cast is Aunjanue Ellis who will star as the Clark Sisters’ famed mom, Mattie Moss Clark. The movie will detail the Grammy-winning group’s humble beginnings; struggles to find their place; their groundbreaking music and becoming the best-selling female gospel group. The movie will feature re-recordings of some of The Clark Sisters biggest hits like “You Brought The Sunshine”.

Ben Tankard Gears Up For Church Tour Ben Tankard is the best-selling Gospel/Jazz Artist of all-time, a 15-time Stellar Award winner and a Stellar Music Hall of Fame inductee. He has sold 15 Gold and 6 Platinum records and has earned numerous Dove, Grammy, Soul Train Award nominations and a 2019 NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Jazz Recording. This year marked his first #1 on the Billboard

L.A. Focus/December 2019

RedCarpet Style

16

ESTER DEAN donned a bright and shiny black gown,

TYRA BANKS opted for a tan power suit and a flash of her black bra.

Smooth Jazz Airplay Chart and Mediabase Smooth Jazz Radio Chart with his single "Rise".

As a licensed pilot who owns his own airplanes, Tankard took to the sky for his "RISE" Spring Summer Small Church Tour. He is now preparing for the 2020 portion of his 200-city “Rise” Small Church tour. His tour is sponsored by Shell Aviation and Walmart, which enables Tankard, who is also an honorary Tuskegee Airman, to fly himself to appearances at smaller venues and areas that normally would not be able to afford to book an A-list artist.

Tankard's professional music career began with his first recording All Keyed Up. Released in 1989, Tankard’s All Keyed Up album was the start the determined former NBA player-turned-musician’s gospel career that subsequently led to reality TV. Tankard's family reality TV show The Tankards is now shooting season 4! The upcoming season chronicles life on tour and the inner workings of their businesses, homes in multiple states and Tankard's private pilot activities and youth outreach.

In other gospel news, Kirk Franklin led the gospel nominees with two nods in the Gospel/Contemporary Christian Music Category for his latest CD, “Long Live Love”, with the recent announcement of Grammy Award nominations. Others nominated for the prestigious awards included Donald Lawrence (“Goshen”); William Murphy (“Settle Here”); CeCe Winans (“Something’s Happening!

A Christmas Album”); Tasha Cobbs Leonard (“This Is A Move Live”); Travis Greene (“See The Light”); Gloria Gaynor (“Testimony”) and Koryn Hawthorne (“Speak The Name”) featuring Natalie Grant...Finally, GRAMMY Award winner Tasha Cobbs Leonard is marking the tenyear anniversary of her debut album, Smile, by making the newly remastered album available . The fan-favorite album, which was independently released by Tasha Cobbs Ministries in 2010, features the original recordings of the praise & worship hit “Happy,” the worshipful “Smile,” and the inspirational “Confidence.”

Celebrities gathered at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles to honor the best music and ariststs of the past year at the American Music Awards, hosted by Ciara. Here are some of the best looks from this year’s red carpet.

CIARA stepped out in an oversized Balmain jaket.

MEGAN THEE STALLION channeled Jessica Rabbit in a high slit shiny red dress.

REGINA KING looked elegant in a black sequined cut-out gown.

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year”, not to mention that Christmas is one of the biggest movie going days of the year, so it’s time to check out what this holiday season has to offer.

Whether in a theater or in front of your home screen for a Netflix/Hulu binge and chill, there’s some great movie fare for you to consider and here’s a list to get you started. Among the big releases I’m really excited about are “Jumanji, The Next Level,” starring Kevin Hart, and DeWayne ’ The Rock’ Johnson. “Spies In Disguise,” featuring Will Smith and the big flick of the season, “Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker.”

Kevin Garnett is set to star alongside Adam Sandler, the Weekend and

LaKeith Stanfield in the crime thriller, Uncut Gems. And Michael B. Jordan is getting rave reviews for his role as a lawyer defending Jamie Foxx, who stars as a man sentenced to die for the murder of an 18 year old in “Just Mercy”, which will have a limited release this Christmas, with a wider release in January.

Let's not forget the highly anticipat-

ed “Cats,” featuring Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, James Cordon and Jason Derulo. I’m going in cautiously, meow.

Other soon-to-be favorites on Netflix are: “Holiday In The Wild,” “The Knight Before Christmas,” “Christmas Break-In,” and my silly cooking fave is, “Nailed It, Holiday Special.”

And, for family fun check out, “Klaus,” and “Family Reunion” A Christmas special featuring Loretta Devine, Tia Mowry-Hardrict, and Anthony Alabi.

There’ll be a quite a few movies to entertain and inspire, so snuggle up with the family or grab your jacket and get to movie-ing and whatever else, Hometown: Philadelphia, PA “Have Yourself a Merry Little Big Break: “Undeclared’ and “Paper Soldiers” Christmas!” Peace & Blessings for a Current Projects: “Jumanji: The Next Level” Great 2020.

Q&A

Kevin Hart

DUE IN THEATERS THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Jumanji December 13

Cats December 20

Lizzo and Lil Nas X Dominate 2020 Grammy Nominations

The 2020 Gramy nominations were released and leading the pack was Lizzo with a total of eight nominations.

The artist scored a rare “Grand Slam” by being nominated for all four major awards at the same time: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Record of the Year and Best New Artist.

Lizzo was also nominated for best Pop Solo Performance, Best R&B performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance and Best Urban Contemporary Album.

Lil Nas X also had a successful year, earning six total nominations.

R&B singer H.E.R also got nominations for Record, Song of the year and for Album of the Year. She totals out at five nominations.

Beyoncé has four nominations for “Spirit,” The Lion King: The Gift and Homecoming The late Nipsey Hussle also earned three posthumous Grammy nominations including best rap performance for “Racks in the Middle,” best rap/sung performance for “Higher and best rap song for “Racks in the Middle.”

Mo’Nique Files Racial and Gender Discrimination Lawsuit Against Netflix Mo’Nique, the Oscar-winning actress and comedian,

Spies in Disguise December 25

has filed a lawsuit against Netflix for racial and gender discrimination.

According to People, Monique Hicks is accusing the streaming giant of offering her less money for a special than her fellow male or white female comedians. The lawsuit outlines Netflix offering a “talent fee” of $500,000 and references the offers made to other comedians like Dave Chappelle, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and Ricky Gervais.

For example, it claims Seinfeld signed a $100 million deal in 2017 and that Chappelle’s deal for three specials in 2016 was worth $60 million.

Schumer, it adds, negotiated a $13 million deal for a stand-up special in 2017.

“Despite Mo’Nique’s...documented history of comedic success, when Netflix...made a lowball offer that was only a fraction of what Netflix paid other (non-Black female) comedians,” the lawsuit said. “In short, Netflix’s offer to Mo’Nique perpetuates the drastic wage gap forced upon Black women in America’s workforce.”

R o b y n Crawford Opens Up About Relationship With Whitney Houston In her new memoir, Robyn Crawford has revealed some new details about her relationship and love affair with best friend Whitney Houston.

Breaking her silence seven years after Houston’s tragic death, Crawford addressed the

Clemency December 27

long-discussed rumors and confirmed that she once had a romantic relationship with Houston.

“I’d come to the point where I felt the need to stand up for our friendship. And I felt an urgency to stand up and share the woman behind the incredible talent,” she said.

Crawford further wrote that their “connection was undeniable.”

“You could feel it...We were partners. I didn’t know how long it was going to last, but I knew we were meant to be,” she added. “We never talked labeles, like lesbian or gay. We just lived our lives.”

Crawford explained that their romantic relationship ended when Houston’s career soared in 1982.

Actor Courtney B. Vance Named New President of SAG-AFTRA Foundation Courtney B. Vance, Emmy and Tony Award-winning actor, has been named the new president of the SAGAFTRA Foundation.

Vance will succeed JoBeth Williams who leaves the organization after a decade and his nomination represents the next phase in a plan to make the SAG-AFTRA Foundation “part of the industry fabric,” Vance told Variety.

With a $6 million annual budget, the foundation is able to provide aid to all SAG-AFTRA cardholders.

These services include emergency health and financial assistance, disaster relief and artistic and business education programs.

“The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a vital organization and it is a privilege to shine a light on it in my new role as President. My parents raised us to be helpers and just as there are no small roles, there are no small jobs. This is an opportunity to help people and educate artists who are the backbone of our industry,” Vance added in a statement.

The stand-up comedian and actor was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA where he was raised in a singleparent household by his mother, Nancy. His father, a cocaine addict who was constantly in and out of jail throughout his life, spurred Kevin to turn to humor as a way to cope. After graduating from high school and briefly attending community college, Hart began pursuing a career in comedy. He has since reached an impressive comedic reputation, selling out comedy tours and starring in prominent film and TV shows.

On his upbringing and struggles...

North Philadelphia. 'The hood.' It wasn’t bad when you’re in there. When you get out, you see what it is and how it can be misconstrued. At the end of the day, here’s the reality, when you’re growing up in the innercity, it’s not a lot of options for a lot of these guys. Those who stay true to beliefs, upbringing, education, and the motto of “Get a good education, go to school, so you can do something with yourself,” they do. That’s not the answer for everybody. Some people want the quick dollar, and selling drugs is the answer to that. And I was around that a lot, but I had a mother that was strongwilled, that made sure I didn’t participate. She kept me busy in extracurricular activities, and I saw no part of that life. It doesn’t mean that I look down on the people that did, because I’m not a guy who’s not a realist. I understand reality, and I understand when people’s backs are against the walls sometimes, and they’re faced with no choice but to do what they feel at that time is the right decision. I don’t knock it. But it’s my job to push that kind of positive message to the younger guys that are coming up now, that you don’t have to go that route. There is a light at the end of the tunnel, if you’re strong enough to wait for it.

On how he first discovered he was funny,,,, I’'ve always been a funny guy, but when I went to community college and was working at the same time, I was known as the guy who would hold court. But it kind of hit me when some of my friends kept suggesting that I pursue comedy. They said, 'You're funny as hell.'

You hear that kind of thing enough and eventually you're going to try it. When I did, I fell in love with it and knew it would be my career.

On the line between jokes that are edgy and jokes that are offensive...

We've lost the thought that comedians try to be edgy and funny. That's what comedians do. That's not me justifying it – that's me trying to make people have the common-sense side of it, see the reality of what a comedian's attempt is behind the job. It doesn't mean that you get it right all the time. It doesn't mean you're going to knock the ball out of the park all the time. ...

There was a joke I used to have where I referred to midgets as midgets. And then I later was educated that midgets don't like to be called midgets! They like to be referred to as little people. I didn't know that! It was just a joke. ... I won't do that anymore. It's within the attempt to be funny. It doesn't mean that there's a malicious piece to it, you're just trying to make people Kevin Hart continued to page 24

ChurchNews Bishop Kenneth Ulmer Hosts Conference On Race, Reconciliation And Righteousness

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center Consolidated Plaza: 3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Reginald A. Pope Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 8am • 11am Children’s Church: 11am (2nd/4th Sundays) Evangelism Training/Bible Study/Independent Prayer: (Mon): 7:29pm Mobile Prayer/Bible Study: (Wed) 11am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm

Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer, Presiding Bishop of the Macedonia International Bible Fellowship (MIBF) and Senior Pastor-Teacher of Faithful Central Bible Church, hosted pastors and church leaders from around the country at its annual conference held last month with the theme: Race, Reconciliation & Righteousness: A Kingdom Perspective.

Joining the conference as guest speakers were some of the foremost scholars, historians, pastors and authors in the country who have given their lives to fighting the ungodly mindset of racism– especially as it relates to the church and the people of God. Dr. Curtiss Paul DeYoung–CEO of the Minnesota Council of Churches; Pastor Albert Tate–Pastor of one of the fastest growing multi-cultural churches in America (Fellowship Monrovia); Dr. Korie Edwards–Associate Professor of Sociology at Ohio State University and celebrated scholar of race and religion in America; Pastor William McKissic, Sr.– a leading voice for reconciliation in the Southern Baptist denomination; and Dr. Eric Mason– noted author and pastor of Epiphany Fellowship in Philadelphia.

“I believe the church is not only being challenged, but called to be, as Dr. Martin Luther King declared– ‘the headlights and not the taillights’ on this issue of racial reconciliation,” said Dr. Ulmer.

“The whole conference was about what God says we ought to do and how do we do it. If the church is called to be an Ambassador of reconciliation, where is our voice and what does our voice look like. The culture has changed. The church is being seen as incompatible with its image. The church is being questioned by a generation that says, you all ain’t doing nothing. what does that look like.”

Ulmer says he didn’t know there would be that much interest in the issue and there was a lot of debate about whether or not it was something the conference would tackle.

“The cocoon of the black church has been a place of escape so many would not agree that it is a problem. We have not cared. This is where we gather to get away from them [whites]. Everybody’s going to shout the same shout and dance the same death, but the question of this conference is what does the Bible say about that?

“It is the enlightenment of the complexity of the issue of racism and its related issues and if the church is to be the church, we must lead, and certainly not remain silent, on this critical issue.”

L.A. Focus/December 2019

In national church news, the CME church has announced the passing of Bishop E. Lynn Brown, the 46th Bishop of the Christian Methodist Church. Brown served as presiding prelate of the Ninth Episcopal District from 1986 through the late 90’s…. Last month televangelist Paula White became an official White House staffer member at the White House. She will White will work in the Office of Public Liaison with the Faith and Opportunity initiative established by President Trump in May 2018 and serve in an advisory capacity.

The Faith and Opportunity initiative was established by executive order to assist faith-based and other organizations in their efforts to strengthen the institutions of civil society and American families and communities.

White, who chairs the president’s evangelical advisory board, has reportedly been serving as Trump’s spiritual adviser for 18 years…Speaking of Trump, Bishop Paul S. Morton got slammed on social media for

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continued to page 24

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

God’s Faithful Disciple of Jesus Christ / Prayer Clinic & Deliverance Ministry P.O. Box 561368, Los Angeles,CA 90056 (323)293-7566 • www.gfdjc.org• gfdjc@att.net Dr. Ruby Cottle, Pastor & Teacher G.F.D.J.C Every Friday: 7:00pm -9:30pm We meet at this location: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 West Adams Blvd, LA, CA 90018

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027 Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior Pastor Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph

Sunday School: 8am Worship: 9:30am Wed. Bible Study: 11:30am •6pm

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 Rev. Rodney Howard Sunday L.I.F.E Group: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Wednesday Intercessory Prayer: 6:30pm Wednesday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm E-Mail: gtbcla@gmail.com

Calvary Baptist Church 4911 W. 59th Street,Los Angeles, CA,90056 (323)298-1605•F: (310) 568-8430 • calvarybaptistla.org Rev. Dr. Virgil V. Jones Sunday Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 12:00pm & 7:00pm We are the Church on the Hill where the Light Shines Bright!

Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Dr. Cedrick Bridgeforth, Pastor • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School (all ages) : 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Tues. Mobile Prayer: 6:15am Wed. Bible Study: Noon Follow us on Facebook

Christ The Good Shepherd Episcopal Church 3303 W. Vernon Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 295-4139 • F: (323) 295-4681 Rev. Edith Oloimooja Sunday School: 10:00am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:00am Mon. Centering Prayer/Meditation: 6:30pm Mon. Overeaters Anonymous: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study & Eucharist: 7:00pm Wed. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7:00pm E: cgshepherd4041@sbcglobal.net

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter

Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 www.christianfellowshipla.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sun. Early Worship: 8:00am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1:00pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6:00pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Paul A. Hill, Interim Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adult) Bible Study: Every Thursday 12:00pm

Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Pastor Frederick K. Price, Jr.

Israel Missionary Baptist Church - A Holy Spirit Filled Church 4501 South Compton Ave, Los Angeles,CA 90011 Church/Fax: (323) 233-3295 or 3296 Website: www.Israelmbc.com • Email: israelmbc@yahoo.com

Sunday Service: 9:45am Bible Study (Tue): 11:00am & 7:30pm Tue. Night Children’s Ministry: 7:30pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7:30pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7:30pm

First AME Church (FAME) 2270 South Harvard Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-1251 • F: (323) 735-3353 • www.famechurch.org Pastor J. Edgar Boyd, Senior Pastor/CEO Sunday School: 10:00am Worship: 8:00am, 10:00am, Noon Teen Church (2nd Sundays):Noon,Allen House Wed. Prayer Service: Noon Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Radio: 10:30am on KJLH-102.3FM First AME is the oldest Black Church in the City

Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm

Rev. Rodney J. Howard, Sr. Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:30am Sunset Service: 5:00pm Communion Every First Sunday First Sunday Men In Prayer: 8:30 am Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesdays: 7:30pm Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

Mt. Sinai Church 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121 F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 10:00am Noonday Prayer (Mon): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Noonday Bible Study(Wed): 12:00pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sat): 9:00pm

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776

Sundays: Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7:00pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

Please call for our Sunday School & Discipleship Schedule

Our Goal: To glorify God by winning more Christians and developing better Christians (Matt. 28:18-20) Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church 1300 E. 50th Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 235-2103 • F: (323) 235-3177 • www.mtzionla.org Dr. Edward V. Hill, II, Pastor Sunday Intercessory Prayer: 9:15am Morning Worship: 9:30am Children’s Church: 9:30am Sunday School: 11:30am Baptism: 2nd Sun. & Lord’s Supper: 1st. Sun. Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 2009 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 293-6448 • F: (323) 293-6605 • email:phbcoffice@yahoo.com www.pleasanthillbconline.com

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm

St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 1740 West 59th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90047 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 56608, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor

Bishop Sylvester Washington Sunday School: 8:30am - 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00am Tuesday Night Evangelism Classes:6:30pm Corporate Prayer 3rd Wed. monthly:7:00pm 1st Sun. Holy Communion 10:00am Worship

Sunday Worship Service: 8:00am PrayerLine: (Tuesday & Wednesday): 6:00am WordLine (Tuesday): 7:00pm ( (712) 775-7031 Access Code: 814352108) E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com

MOUNT MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH OF LOS ANGELES, INC. Presents

PRAYER BOWL

A Day of Praying, Preaching and Praising!

Kick-Off Time: 11:00 A. M. MOUNT MORIAH BAPTIST CHURCH 4269 So Figueroa St – Los Angeles, CA 90037

For More Information Call: 323.846.1950

Johnteris Tate Host Pastor

“The Largest New Year’s Day Worship Experience in Southern California” New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis Sunday Early Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-6458 Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Sunday Morning Broadcast: 5:30am Live Streaming Sundays: 12:00pm http://www.pozlive.com

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Pastor Darryl Barnes Adult Life Sunday School Study: 8am Sunday Worship Servie: 9:30am P3 - Pray, Praise & Partake (Fri before 1st Sunday) Mission Bible Study(Wed): 12:00pm Women’s Bible Study(Thurs.): 7:00pm New Life Bible Study(Sat.): 9:00am

Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor

Southern Saint Paul Church 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • smbc@smbcla.org Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Senior Pastor/Teacher Corporate Prayer: 8:30am L.I.F.E. Groups: 9:45am Morning Worship Service: 11:15am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 4:00pm Pastoral Bible Study (PBS)Wednesdays:7:00pm North Campus: Worship Service: 8:00am 11137 Herrick Av • Pacoima 91331 (818) 899-8031 st.paul@smbcla.org •“Loving People Making Disciples”

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

Sunday Worship Service: 10:00am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11:00am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

The Potter’s House at One LA 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.tphla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:15am & 1:00pm Thursday Midweek Service: 8pm Watch Live: http://ttphla.org/watch-live/

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9:00am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7:00pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org Victory Baptist Church 4802 South McKinley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 231-2424• Pastor Dr. W. Edward Jenkins Sunday School: 10:45 am Morning Worship: 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday:Noon Radio Sundays: KPRO 1570AM: 9:00pm

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Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm) Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor

Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am www.westa.tv

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus)

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center In Altadena 2556 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 797-3585 • F: (626) 797-3233 • www.lifelinefcc.org Bishop Charles D. Dorsey

First United Methodist Church Compton 1025 S. Long Beach Blvd • Compton, CA 90221 (310) 639-0775 • Fax: (310) 639-1161

Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm

Dr. Arnetha E. Inge, Pastor

Sunday School: 9:00am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm

Sunday School: 8:30am - 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00 - 11:45am TONGAN Worship: 1:00 pm (2nd & 3rd Sundays) Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:30 am & 6:30pm

Sunday Worship: 8:00am|10:45am| 5:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm|7:00pm FB: GreaterZion IG: GZCFamily www.gzcf.us

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.loveandunity.org Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am & 11:30am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:30pm Bible Studies: Wed. 7:30pm & Sat. 9am Prayer w/Apostle: Tue - Fri: 9am Food for Your Soul TV MinistryImpact Network Television: Mon-Fri 6:30am

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones

In Gardena

Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:00pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7:00pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7:00am

Pastor Profile: Rashod Hall going from the second chair to the first chair.

Church: People’s Independent Church of Christ How Long at Church: Since September 2019 Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Divorced, two sons (ages 7 and 5)

Growing up, were you involved in the church? Is that something you knew you were going to be involved?

Yes. I've always been involved with the church. I'm actually a third-generation preacher's child on both sides of my family, on my mother and my father's side.

And there was no second-guessing? You knew this was the path for you?

Yeah. It's always kind of been a part of my life. You know, I don't know any other life. I grew up as a preacher's son and a preacher's grandson and a preacher's nephew you know? It's just been a huge part of my life.

How did you come to be at People's Independent?

I was serving as Executive Pastor at God is Fire Worship Center which is where my dad pastored, Bishop Emmel Hall. My grandmother, interestingly enough, saw the publication for People's Independent and she had told my dad about it which meant ultimately, I found out about it and that's how I applied. I went through the process and then on September the 15th of 2019 I was elected as the pastor.

L.A. Focus/December 2019

How has that transition been for you?

It's been an interesting transition from the second chair to the first chair. You know, operating still in the office fo pastor—you know I've been operating in that office since 2007 but in the executive pastor role but now going into my fifth week as the senior pastor it's just different responsibilities. There's different expectations and different things of that nature that has been the most adjustment I've had to get used to.

Any unexpected challenges so far or has it been smooth sailing?

No unexpected challenges have arisen. The Lord has just blessed me to be surrounded by wonderful men of God that have been mentors and peers that have been senior pastors for some time now, so they have been a great blessing helping me through when I've had questions and also a source of relief when there are moments of, you know, "you guys didn't tell me it was going to be like this." Just kind of that brotherly love. It's, for me, been a really smooth transition

20

How would you think to describe yourself? How do you think others describe you and does that coincide with how you describe yourself?

I think it does. I would describe myself as the quintessential servant. I’ve just always been about the betterment of other people. I love to see people advance and be better in all phases of their life: spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally and in whatever way I can allow someone to advance or be better in those areas that is kind of me at my core. I’m just a servant in that way.

You said you were doing a food distribution the other day so is that a program you're involved in and can you tell me a little bit more of other things your church does?

Yes, we have a food distribution that we do every Tuesday at 11 A.M where individuals from the community and those that are in need even within our church, come and get groceries. We have a partnership right now with Whole Foods that we're looking to expand in the coming year where individuals who need groceries, eggs, different produce, fruit, vegetables come every week and we try to provide that to them. Because some people may earn or have a job or part-time job but just because you have a job or you're making a living doesn't always mean you have everything you necessarily need to get by from week to week or month to month, so we try to be a blessing to the community and our members in that way every week.

What does the future hold for you? What are your goals?

In this new position at People's Independent we're really going to be looking to walk out the vision of our church. Some people might not know but People's Independent, they are the first community church in Los Angeles. So, as I've been there [recently] I'm trying to gather the history of our church and also see what our immediate sort of Crenshaw corridor is in need of and see how we can really start to live out the vision of our church and be a blessing to the current needs of our community.

Whether that be through assisting and helping small businesses get up on their feet because we're right off the Crenshaw corridor and we know that the construction of Metro has kind of displaced and disrupted some of their businesses or through making sure that the schools around our area have what is needed, are properly staffed with teachers or they have the books and supplies and things of that nature. Or gang

activity or housing because we know that all of Los Angeles is really dealing with the homeless issue that we have. So, I'm really starting to dig and do research on what Los Angeles needs and then seeing how we could be a blessing and an aid to our city.

You talked a little bit about the history of People's Independent. Is that something that drew you to People's Independent or something you were aware of before?

I wasn't aware of their deep history as it pertained to Los Angeles but once I was elected as pastor and I was able to the deep dive I was able to see that me, myself personally, and everything that this ministry has been about has been on the same path. I've always, even at my jobs outside of ministry, always been tied to people and meeting and helping people. So knowing that the church I now pastor is a community church seems like it's just a marriage made in heaven. That it's not taking me far off from where God has allowed my life to go. So, I love everything about where God has me now in my life. I couldn't ask for anything more. I think that would just be selfish.

Do you have a motto?

I haven't lived by any particular motto. I would say, you know, I try just to be the best person that I could be. I don't even know if that's a motto or a logo or a catchphrase but one thing I try to be with anybody that I encounter is authentic and real. I think the world is searching for not only a church but pastors that can shoot straight and not be judgmental knowing that individuals are flawed but it's okay. All of us, even the pastors, have issues and trials and things they struggle with. I will take this from my cousin— he is a world-renown preacher all over the world his name is Dr. Todd Hall, but they call him the Praiseologist—he says that now the new parent is transparent. That you bless people by people knowing what you've been through. So, I believe we help each other when we can tell somebody: look at what God has done for me and look at what I've come through and if he's done it for me, he'll do it for you.

So, I think there's a new shift that if we allow ourselves to be transparent with individuals that I think we can help them along their journey. continued to page 24

The Liberty Church 14725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross Early Worship: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9am & 11am Children’s Church: Both Services Word Power Wed.: 7-8pm www.thelibertychurch.com

Atherton Baptist Church 2627 W. 116th Street Hawthorne,CA 90250 (323) 757-3113 • www.athertonbc.org F: 323-757-8772 • athertonbaptist@sbcglobal.net Pastor Larry Weaver

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm

Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7:00pm

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International In Inglewood 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7:00pm Wednesday Pathway: 7:00pm Thurs Bible Study: 10:00am Sat Marriage & Family Prayer: 7:30am

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Rev. Wendy Howlett Sunday School: 8:30am Morning Worship: 9:30am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm

Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr.

Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm Sunday School: 9:00am Sunday Worship: 10:30am

Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 757-1804 www.go2Hope.com Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

Faithful Central Bible Church 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave. Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8000 • F: (310) 330-8035 Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, Ph.D. Senior Pastor/Teacher Services at The Tabernacle: Sunday Services: 7:00am, 9:30am & 11:45am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7:00pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood www.faithfulcentral.com

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90302 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday Fresh Start & Prayer 9:00am Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7:00pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm www.jacobladderschurch.com New Mount Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church 434 S. Grevillea, Inglewood CA 90301 (310) 673-6250 Office • (310) 673-2153 Rev. Dr. Phillip A. Lewis, D. D., D. Th., Senior Pastor Early Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11:00am Mid-Week Bible Study (Wednesday): 7:00pm Afternoon Bible Study (Thursday): 1:00pm

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon

In St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church 1720 N. Walnut Avenue, La Puente, CA 91744 (626) 918-3225 • F: (626) 918-3265 Pastor Tony Dockery

La Puente

Sunday School: 9:30 AM Early Worship: 8:00 AM Morning Worship: 11:00 AM Spanish Service: 9:30AM Bible Study: Every Wednesday 7:00 PM www.stsbc.org

Antioch Church of Long Beach Mailing address P.O. Box 2291, Long Beach, CA 90801 website:www.antiochlb.com

In Long Beach

Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr. Sunday Worship Services: 10:00am Long Beach Poly High School 1600 Atlantic Avenue Long Beach, Ca 90813

Christ Second Baptist Church 1471 Martin Luther King, Jr., Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-3421 • Fax: (562) 599-6175 • www.csbclb.org Rev. Welton Pleasant II, Senior Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7:00pm

Christian’s Community Center of Los Angeles 3960 E. Gilman Street,Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 597-3252 Senior Pastor Thom Washington Sunday Morning Prayer 8:00am New Member’s Class 9:00am Sunday Bible Class 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Sunday Afternoon Services 4:00pm (2nd & 4th Sunday) WednesdayPrayer 6:00pm Bible Study Wednesday 7:00pm Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

First Lady Files Juanita Pope Bethel Missionary Baptist Church Born in the small town of Ringgold, Louisiana, First Lady Juanita Pope first arrived at the bustling city of Los Angeles when she was just 11 years old.

Since then, she has established herself as the respected and dedicated First Lady of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church alongside her husband of over 40 years, Pastor Reginald Pope.

While those around her describe Juanita Pope as the model First Lady and the epitome of a wife in ministry, preaching and teaching the word of God, Juanita Pope does not consider her position anything special.

“I’m just his wife and another member of the church.

That’s just how I look at it,” she explains.

The statement reflects her humility, admitting that she does not enjoy the spotlight.

“It’s just my personality, that’s just me,” she said. “I guess that’s how God made me. I don’t push to be upfront.

I don’t especially care for that. I work and do and help wherever I can and however I can without expecting to get accolades or anything like that.”

Instead, she finds her gratification by seeing those the church has encouraged. In particular, she is always excited to see families who grow up at Bethel Missionary.

“You want to see people grow...develop and mature,” she adds. “If I can really get people to get into the word of God and really know what it means...and really let it be part of their life. I rejoice.”

For now, her goal is to continue welcoming people to the church and she hopes that by being herself she may just encourage somebody else.

Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com Bishop Joe L. Ealy Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Annointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Were all receive a little attention, affection and love.

New Philadelphia A.M.E. Church 6380 S. Orange Avenue, Long Beach, Ca 90805 (562)422-9300•F: (562) 422-9400 Pastor Darryl E. Walker, Senior Pastor Worship: 9:00am —1st & 5th Sunday Sunday School/New Member Classes: 8:00am 2nd thru 4th Sunday Worship:7:30 am &10:00am•Sunday School New Member Classes: 9:00am Sunday worship services streamed live on the web Pastor’s Bible Study: Wednesday Eve 7:00pm Mid-Week Bible Study: Thursday 12:00 noon www.nuphilly.org

Greater Emmanuel Temple 3740 E. Imperial Highway, Lynwood, CA 90262 (424) 296-0400 •www.greateremmanuel.org

In Lynwood

Pastor Nissan Stewart Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Prayer: 6:30pm Mid-Week Refuel/Bible Study: 7:00pm (Wednesday) Follow us: @GETFamilyNow The Greater Emmanuel Temple App Available in App Store Second Baptist Church In Monrovia 925 S. Shamrock Ave., P.O. Box 478, Monrovia,Ca 91017•(626)358-2136•(626) 303-2477 Fax Church Office: Tue-Thur 9am -5pm e-mail:sbcmon925@gmail.com • www.sbcmonrovia.org Pastor Christopher A. Bourne, Sr. Sunday School: 9:45am-10:30am Sunday Worship Service:10:45am Prayer/Bible Study Wed.:10:45am & 6:45

From the Pulpit of:

Brookins-Kirkland Community AME Church “An Approved Worker” My favorite teacher was Mrs. Jessie Lane. She was my algebra 2, trigonometry, and calculus teacher. She was a neat, petite statute of a woman, soft-spoken, but could be firm when she needed to be. Mrs. Lane excited me about learning math. When I became frustrated when trying to solve a problem, she patiently talked me through the process without giving me the answer. She taught in a way where I got it and wanted to learn more.

That’s what I appreciated about her.

Back in the day, teachers taught because they loved teaching. They loved the feeling they felt when their students grasp the subject matter. Teachers have a duty to impart strong morals to their students. Parents are children’s first teachers. Proverbs 22:6 says to “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.”

It’s called home training. Nowadays, people go into teaching for the wrong reasons. Some are incentivized to teach “for the love of money,” and not the “thrill of the students.”

We are living at a unique time when there is a surplus of jobs, but a shortage of workers.

Unemployment is high in some communities, not because jobs don’t exists, but because workers are not qualified for them. Have you ever heard of being hired and trained for a job, work one day and never show up or call the employer the next day? Or, reporting your impending absence from work to your supervisor without bothering to come up with a reason why or an excuse.

Some workers come with the idea of making bank at the entry level. Ever heard of “crawling before you walk?” That means starting at the entry level and working your way up. And they wonder why they can’t find a job. It’s called work ethic!

Whatever your motivation is do it for the right reason! If you are going to be a teacher, know the subject matter. Study! You cannot teach something you know nothing about.

This was the issue in the Ephesian church. Some heretical teachers, Gnostics, joined the church. They wanted to teach a doctrine different from what Paul taught. Gnostics believed that “the divine Christ join the human Jesus at baptism and the divine Christ left the human Jesus before he died.” They wanted to teach myths and Jewish genealogy – in the church. These false teachers were argumentative, and they didn’t know what they were talking about, which caused confusion.

Today, people join church congregations from different denominations. They bring what they were taught in their old congregation to the new church. We sometimes put them up to teach and preach before we know what they know. That’s because we don’t know any better.

Both congregations were teaching doctrinal beliefs as opposed to the word of God. Paul told Timothy, the Holy Spirit says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, and hypocritical liars (1 Timothy 4:1-4). Follow sound teaching.

Be an approved worker nourished on the words of the faith. Stop running after everyone who has a whoop, a holler, and a collar!

Teaching God’s word requires the spiritual gift of teaching. The spiritual gift of teaching is the special ability that God gives to certain members of the Body of Christ to “communicate information relevant to the health and ministry of the Body and its members in such a way that others will learn.”

Before you attempt to teach Church school, Bible study, or God’s Word, make sure you are gifted to do this. The Bible says in 1 Timothy 4:1, The Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some in the church will turn away from Christ and become eager followers of teachers with devil-inspired ideas.

The solution to this devilment is to Train yourself to be godly (1 Tim. Pastor Mary Minor

Walking In The Spirit Ministries Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks

In Norwalk

Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

First AME Church Santa Monica In Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 450-0331•Email: choffice19@aol.com Rev. Carolyn Baskin-Bell, Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Worship Service: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study & Prayer: 12 noon Thursday Bible Study & Prayer: 6 pm

“The Church In The Heart Of The Community with The Community at Heart” Morning Star Chrisian Church In Pasadena 980 Rio Grande Street, Pasadena, CA 91104 *Mailing Address: 1416 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-4875 • F: (626) 794-7815 Pastor W. Harrison Trotter and First Lady Ranza Trotter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7:00pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. :13 First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pasadena 1700 N. Raymond Ave, Pas, CA 91103•(626) 798-0503 admin@famepasadena.org•www.famepasadena.org Rev. Dr. Larry E. Campbell Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 am - 11:00am Church School: 10:00am Wed’s: • Sunrise Prayer Service: 5:30am • Hour of Power Bible Study: 10:30am • Sunset Prayer Service: 6:00pm •Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm Third Saturday Bible Study: 10:00am Children Ch 1st, 2nd, 4th Sun: 8 & 11:00am

4:7). Godliness requires self-discipline.

In a school examination, the examiner put the question, "What is false doctrine?" Up went a little boy's hand, and there came the answer, "It's when the doctor gives the wrong stuff to the people who are sick." False doctrine (doctorine) indeed!

Sermons that we hear on the radio, see on the television, stream on our computers, and hear from some pulpits, show that there are pulpit doctors who are giving the "wrong stuff" to sin-sick souls. The Word of God is the right stuff.

When God wants work done, God calls a worker. God never calls lazy or an idle worker when God needs people for God’s service. Moses was busy with his father-in-laws flocks at Mount Horeb. Gideon was busy threshing wheat by the wine press. Saul was busy searching for his father's lost beasts. Elisha was busy plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. David was busy caring for his father's sheep.

Nehemiah was busy bearing the king's wine-cup. Amos was busy following the flock. Peter and Andrew were busy casting a net into the sea. James and John were busy mending their nets. Matthew was busy collecting taxes. Paul was busy persecuting Christians.

When God wanted to save the world, God called Jesus the Christ, God’s only begotten son. God wrapped himself in flesh, came all the way from heaven to save you and me.

God left the mighty throne in glory to bring to us redemption's story: They hung him high and stretched him wide.

They pierced him in his side.

The blood and water came streaming down.

THe hung his head and then He died.

They placed him in a borrowed tomb.

But, early on Sunday morning, He got up! He got up with all power in his hands.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved

by God... Be a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). An Approved Worker!

Bill Cosby continued from page 6 come in and he explains to me what moves I need to make so that Mann Up can be a success,” stated Sutton, 56, who has spent his entire adult life in prison.

“He says to always remember to work as a team. We are all in this life together and Mr. Cosby is a political prisoner and he tells us that we’ve got to save our babies. We can’t be out there killing our children and our women,” Sutton stated.

Groves and Butler have served more than a dozen years in prison and said Cosby’s presence has helped them to see their lives differently.

Cosby recalled entering Temple University as a young man in the 1960s and his desire to become a teacher.

“I’m not a psychiatrist, and I’m not a psychologist. I’m an educator, and what I look forward to is talking to this group of 400 or so men. Some of them here are in their 70s, in their 50s, their 40s, 30s, and 20s,” Cosby said.

“I tell them what I know and what I feel. I feel that

Greater Morning Star Missionary Baptist 1973 Seventeenth St., Santa Monica, CA 90404 (310) 450-1168 • Pastor Study:(310) 450-4880 (City by the Sea) Pastor Michael Larry, Jr. Senior Pastor Sunday School: 9:00am New Member Class: 9:45 - 10:15am Children Church.: 11:15am Wed: Mid-week Bible Worship: 7:00pm 1st Sunday Communion Trusting God to Transform the Creature, the Church and the Community, Romans 12:2 Arise Christian Center In Westchester 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm

everything that I said in 2004, there is a light [behind it],” Cosby stated.

“The mistake I made [in 2004] is making it sound like all the people were making the infractions, and that’s not true.”

Cosby stated that he believes he’s in the right place at the right time because he’s spent his life and career trying to reach African American men.

“I’m looking at a state [Pennsylvania] that has a huge number of prisons, and the one I’m in, thankfully, has the largest population of African Americans,” Cosby stated.

“These are guys who are also from Philadelphia, where I grew up. Many of them are from the neighborhood. Michael Eric Dyson said ‘Bill Cosby is rich and forgot where he came from.’

“That’s not true. I’m not calling him a liar; I’m saying that’s not true. What I’m saying is that it’s not the same neighborhood as it was when I was coming up.

“The influx of drugs and what they’ve done with their own history. If they would pay attention to these things and put education first and respect for others first…it’s almost insane to hear someone say they don’t know how to be a father.

“As I said earlier, the revolution is in the home, and we’ve got to put it there. Marvin Gaye’s ‘What’s Going On,’ is very prophetic in that too many of us are dying in these neighborhoods.’”

It’s easy to see the devaluation of the Black family by others, Cosby stated, adding that the shelving of his iconic “The Cosby Show” is proof that those in power have long conspired to remove anything positive from the Black community.

“When ‘The Cosby Show’ came on with the Huxtables, just think about it. While it was running, other networks and even the media were doing jobs on trying to belittle whatever it represented,” Cosby stated.

“They did not like what ‘The Cosby Show’ looked like for us, and many of us traded into it. Now, look at what has happened. They’ve taken everything that I’ve done and swept it into a place where it would not be shown.

“Thank goodness for TV One and BET, but we’ve got to respect ourselves. We’ve got to have a very, very strong respect for our history.”

Behind the steel walls at SCI-Phoenix, Cosby said he’s at peace.

His fellow residents often ask about his contemporaries like Richard Pryor, whom Cosby once encouraged to use profanity because it fit Pryor’s act.

“It’s a huge smile in my spirit. I can… use their own profanity back at them. I’m saying things to them like, ‘how many times if you have a lamp, do you rub it, give it three wishes. And, how many times can you say mother f–-r and things will come true?” Cosby stated.

“Sometimes, you have to turn on the conjugation of things like slang. You speak it in the home, and that’s what I said in 2004. It was the shock of hearing, ‘Where you is?’, and ‘Where you at?’ and then hear the parents say it too.”

Cosby believes he’s reaching his fellow residents.

“I’m reaching them because they want to be reached.

They’re in prison. I don’t forget a saying, one I quoted or read Bill Cosby continued on page 24

Through the Storm

O

“

a

t

No one gets out of this life unscathed and that’s part of what people can take away from my book is that if you’ve lived a certain amount of years on this earth, everyone has at least one good story to tell.

from talking to Ms. Carroll years later as an adult, she had tried to get my father to let me make an appearance

”

some of her Las Vegas shows but for whatever reason my Dad didn’t want to do it.”

Meanwhile, the money he’d made on the show afforded he and his Dad the opportunity to move to a middleclass Jewish neighborhood in the early 70’s. There was a TV guest appearance here and there, some afternoon specials and a couple of pilots that followed, but by the time he was nine, some were characterizing him as a “has been”.

“When you’re a black child actor, you’re even going to have less opportunities. Not to play a racial card, but that’s kind of a reality. There’s going to be less roles, especially at that time.”

As the offers dissipated so too did Copage’s interest in acting.

“My father was trying to keep it going to a degree but he didn’t really even fully do it,” Copage said. “There were other things I did and people trying to sell projects with my name attached to it, but it wasn’t until my last semester of my junior year that I actually got interested in acting again and wanting to be a good actor much to the influence of my drama teacher, John Ingle, who was a regular on General Hospital for 11 years.

“He saw something in me and it was really his influence that got me on the road of wanting to be a good actor again. From that moment, I got very involved in theater arts in school and wanted to pursue it when I got out of school and had to think about making a real living.”

While there have been parts here and there, Copage took what he thought would be a temporary job waiting tables and up until a year or two ago, that is what paid the rent.

“Not that there’s anything wrong with being a cater-waiter,” Copage wrote in his New York Times oped. “It’s an honest profession. There are upsides. I’ve stood just feet away as Stevie Wonder, Sting, John Legend, Lady Gaga, Lenny Kravitz, Elton John and Katy Perry performed. I’ve tasted the finest foods prepared by famous chefs from around the world. Whenever I come across an entitled celebrity at one of these events, I remember how I was once one of them. I’m in the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, and the Smithsonian, part of our national archives. How many people can say that?”

He has often wondered if his biological mom ever knew that he was on a groundbreaking TV show where he says, “an actress played the role my real mother didn’t want”, while stating how fortunate it was that for three years

Diahann Carroll did.

Over the years, he would run into Carroll.

“People would have me make little guest appearances…present her some flowers for Mother’s Day or appear at something that they were honoring her for. The Donny & Marie Show had me surprise her. What was interesting was that many of those times I didn’t really have the opportunity to sit down with Diahann and talk one on one, but she was always very present and very interested in what I was doing with my life. It was as if we always picked up from where we left off.

The two reconnected for dinner in 2017 where he discussed with her the book he was writing.

“She expressed interest in reading my memoir when it was done and asked what she could do to help me while suggesting that I title it “Television’s First Black Child Star.”

Today, he has a steady job, moonlights as a bartender and is working on his memoir.

“My main reason for writing the book is to hopefully get enough exposure where I can put together a one-man show and maybe tour that around the country at different times. I would like music to be a big part of it. I have a background in dancing as well, but music is probably the thing that most captures my heart, so I would like music to play a major role, whether it be a one man show honoring Diahann’s memory or my experiences growing up.

The death of Carroll –which hit him hard–has fueled his passion to tell his story and if only for a moment reignited interest in the show and Copage, whose facial features haven’t changed all that much and still gets recognized, mostly by African Americans over 50 who remember those times when there weren’t many blacks on TV. Says Copage, “No one gets out of this life unscathed and that’s part of what people can take away from my book is that if you’ve lived a certain amount of years on this earth, everyone has at least one good story to tell and you don’t necessarily have to have been on a groundbreaking television show to tell your story. Everyone’s got their stuff they’ve gone through that others can learn from and that’s what my story is all about.”

L.A. Focus/December 2019

n the pioneering television series, Julia–the first weekly series to depict an African American woman in a non-stereotypical role starring Diahann Carroll– Marc Copage co-starred as her five-year old son living in a somewhat idyllic suburban setting.

But offscreen, life would not be so idyllic for the boy who spend three years in the TV bubble that delivered to NBC one of its top most-watched shows its first two seasons while being derided by critics as "a far, far cry from the bitter realities of Negro life in the urban ghetto."

The death of legendary black actress Diahann Carroll last month brought that picture more sharply into focus as the now 57-year old actor penned a letter to the New York Times–“Diahann Carroll Was the Only Mother I Knew”– not only detailing the love and respect he had for the late actress, but life after the groundbreaking show.

Copage was just five when he was cast as Corey Baker on “Julia”, which premiered on September 17, 1968, just five months after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and in the midst of nationwide protests over the Vietnam and riots. Carroll took a great deal of flak for the show thought to be so unrealistic by those like the late Gil Scott Heron who paralleled it as a cartoon in his famed “The Revolution Will Not Be Televised” or critics who said the show wasn’t black enough.

"At the moment we're presenting the white Negro and he has very little Negroness,” Carroll would remark. " But all that was over the head of five-year old Copage, whose parents had both been actors and was being raised by his Dad after having been abandoned by his Mom. It was his Dad who took him on the audition and who convinced him to do the show. The Los Angeles native loved having Carroll as his mother on the show so much that he frequently asked to go home with her after work.

“Ms. Carroll taught me to always be punctual and a person of my word, as she was,” Copage wrote in the oped. “She came to the set on time for each show, completely prepared. She was polite to everyone and always careful about her diet. She would let me know if I started to get a little too pudgy. The producers would give me Bazooka bubble gum, but she would give me carob snacks that she thought were much healthier.”

Copage even began to think of Carroll’s only child, Suzanne as a sister. What he wouldn’t know until years later was the problem it posed for Carroll who would write in her memoir that because of Suzanne’s jealousy over her relationship with Marc, she had to remove herself from Marc’s life. “‘Suzie’s my real daughter,’ I explained. ‘And you’re my television son,” she wrote in her book. “That doesn’t mean I don’t love you very much. I do. But when the day is over, you must return to your home and I want to do to the same.’ It was such a painful moment. Marc couldn’t understand what was wrong and was terribly hurt.”

Says Copage, “In my eyes as a kid it was in a sense being abandoned again by a mother figure”.

Making things worse, in 1971–after three seasons, the show was cancelled. Yet another disappointment he didn’t understand.

“No one sat me down and explained anything about the show being cancelled or anything,” Copage states.

“Just one day I woke up and the day I would have usually gone to the studio to start working again, I did not. And

23

Bill Cosby continued from page 22 in a book, which says, ‘I don’t know the secret to success, but I do know the secret for failure.’ You can’t please everybody. I have a feeling that these people [Mann Up participants] really want somebody. They have rappers here who are strong and spirited people. They don’t just blame people; they say, ‘we’ve got to do it.’”

Cosby has also served as a voice of reason in prison.

“I heard a guy say to someone that if someone did something he didn’t like, he’d go out and get all his boys and they’d kill the fella. I said, how much sense does that make? You call your boys, and they want to kill him,” Cosby stated.

“I said to look at all the people you’ve got involved, and when you get caught, you are all going to jail, and you got one dead fella. ‘Call if off,’ I told the guy. I said to him that you need to call your friends, too.”

Cosby often tells his fellow residents about an epiphany he had while serving in the Navy, which has allowed him to remain in good spirits while behind bars.

“I got a wife, family, and friends who are so happy that I have something. I go into my penthouse and lay down and start to think about how I can relay a message and give it on Saturdays (during Mann Up sessions) so that they would hear it and feel it,” Cosby stated.

“This Saturday, I gave a talk dedicated to women. I told the story of my wife, who said to me when she got back home after bringing our 43-year-old daughter back home dead from the hospital. It was the most difficult thing she’s ever done in her life, to sit there and watch her daughter die,” he stated.

“From there, I went into the fact that mothers have something that we all have, which is a navel. We have to respect our mothers and our women. We’ve got to stop buying drugs. If you have no buyer, you

can’t sell,” Cosby stated.

After calling back a third time to complete the interview, Cosby said he needed to express the critical role the Black Press has had in telling his story.

“Sixty-five years from now, they will be quoting what you’ve written about your fellow journalists. [Wyatt] has information on how these people have rejected the truth.

You have the information too because you were in that courtroom,” he stated.

“I’m a privileged man. You talk to [NNPA President and CEO] Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., and he will tell you that there is a history of Black political imprisonment in America, and it’s repeating itself in some kind of way.”

Kamala Harris continued from page 6 Newsom remains optimistic and confident in Harris’ campaign nonetheless. Newsom in particular waved off the headlines and said he’s determined to continue assisting her on the campaign trail.

“And I’ll say this: Polls don’t vote, people vote…and the only poll that matters is Election Day,” Newsom told POLITICO. “Honestly…I don’t really have a sense of what it’s like on the ground and the momentum,” he admitted. “I live in a bubble with her, because she’s my friend and we’ve been running around with all the volunteers… and we feel good…She’s too talented to be dismissed — she’s too capable.”

Maurita Coley continued from page 7 embrace the “but for” standard. What I suggest now is that the civil rights groups try to persuade both parties to help get us out of this precarious place in history. To do that, it’s essential that Allen withdraw his $20 billion lawsuit, and that Comcast withdraw its petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court – ideally before the Nov. 13, 2019, oral argument or soon after.

Given Allen’s huge success as an African American businessman, these channels can-

not be so important to him that it’s worth placing all of our civil rights at risk. Likewise, Comcast, which ranks No. 2 on Fortune’s list of 100 best workplaces for diversity and has one of the strongest records of programming diversity in the industry, should demonstrate those values by withdrawing its petition for Supreme Court review if Allen also agrees to step back from the ledge.

Both parties should close their eyes, take a leap – and hold their noses if they must – but do their part to take this case off the docket of a deeply conservative court. Otherwise we might all find ourselves facing an uncertain future, stripped of key civil rights protections.

No contract or channel is worth the risk.

Falen O. Cox continued from page 7 did contract with. The reasoning there is that apples must be compared to apples.

On the other hand, Plaintiffs allege that it has attempted to contract with Comcast for approximately 8 years and has repeatedly been passed over for white-owned companies despite Comcast’s assurances that its channels were “good enough” and that it was on a “short list.”

Most explicit, is Plaintiff’s claim that a Comcast Executive stated, “We’re not trying to create anymore Bob Johnsons.” Bob Johnson is the founder and former owner of B.E.T. which was sold to Viacom for a reported $3 billion.

Plaintiffs allege that Comcast’s refusal to contract, in addition to being motivated by race alone, is also motivated by its desire not to have its networks (and the whiteowned networks that it carries) be required to compete with Plaintiff’s networks, which are black-owned.

The United States Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether a plaintiff who alleges race discrimination pursuant to 42 USC 1981 may have his or her day in court if he or she can show that racial discrimination was a factor, even among others, in a defendant’s refusal to do business.

If so, the plaintiff will be able to move forward through the legal process – and most importantly, through the discovery process – to investigate his or her claim and obtain the evidence necessary (if it exists) to put the question before a jury.

On the other hand, if the Court rules instead that a plaintiff must allege that, but for racial discrimination, the defendant would have contracted with him or her, a plaintiff looking to have his or her day in court will need much stronger evidence, and will be required to disprove any other reason given by the defendant for its refusal to contract without the benefit of discovery.

This case, like so many other recent cases, will test the Supreme Court’s interpretation of the strength of civil rights law.

up there by his side. There are those of us who love everybody but we believe in the Biblical Definition of Marriage.'

Michael Weinstein continued from page 14 on anti-gentrification and protecting communities being destroyed and produce by adapting and reusing all at “a fraction of the time that the government” is spending.

Part of Weinstein’s success has also been marked by pushback and criticism, even from people with similar or identical goals.

However, Weinstein considers the opposition he’s faces as a badge of honor.

“My responsibility is to the clients we serve, the board members and the staff members of AHF and ultimately to public health so I’ll have to leave history to be the judge of the rest,” he said.

“We’re speaking for the voiceless.”

Kevin Hart continued from page 17 laugh. ...

Stand-up comedy is built off of edgy, courageous individuals that will say what other people think. What you think, I'm going to say, because I'm a comedian. That's what comedians do. Now, once again, in doing that, some stuff can be tacky. Some stuff can be tasteless. Some stuff can just be outright demeaning and wrong. In that case, those comedians today will just have a hard time being successful. The comedians that are good, the comedians that can adapt in that no matter what, can still deliver the messages that they want but do it in a classy, mature way, are the comedians that will still evolve and go through even [in] these sensitive times. ...It's like, what state of the world do you want comedy to go to? Because ultimately, if we keep pushing in this direction, you're gonna have comics that don't know what's safe to talk about, and now the conversation has changed to people aren't funny anymore because everybody's afraid to be funny. So what level can they be funny? ... We're taking away the ability for people to be comfortable. Everybody. Workplace, work environments, from professional to any aspect of life, now. Everybody's walking on their toes. Everybody's walking on glass.

Everybody is!

Pastor Profile continued from page 20

Anything else you want people to know about People's Independent?

People's Independent is a loving church, a family church, a church that is about the community and not just bettering ourselves as members but we're really going to be intentional about reaching out and bettering the community in which we're located.

I'm clear about that God does not place communities in churches, He places churches in the community and it's our job to be a blessing in the community in which the Lord has placed us. I'm here to serve the city of Los Angeles, the county of Los Angeles, the state of California in whatever Church news continued from page 18 way I can. I have the natural gift of being a tweeting that America was not ready for a servant so however I can serve where the gay president. 'I am not Homophobic,' the Lord has currently placed me, that's what pastor posted. 'But it is definitely not the I'm going to be looking to do. time 4 POTUS2b a man with his husband

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SavingGrace Harold Perrineau

F

L.A. Focus/December 2019

rom the menacing and intense Damon Pope in Sons of Anarchy to the quiet and sensitive Gil Le Deaux in his most recent film, Cold Brook and his heartfelt portray of Dean Sims the sweet, naive and autistic brother (to Niecy Nash) in “Claws”, Harold Perrineau seems to have done it all, having had roles in some of the most iconic films and television series to grace the big and small screens, including The Matrix and Lost, The Best Man and its sequel, The Best Man Holiday, helping establish the 56-year-old actor as a seasoned and sought after Hollywood talent.

While Perrineau’s first professional break came with his role on stage portraying Tyrone Jackson in the world premiere of the stage adaptation of the 1980 hit film “Film” after graduating from Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia with a degree in music and theatre, the actor revealed that one of his first jobs also included being a dancer in Dreamgirls.

“Growing up in Brooklyn, I always wanted to be an actor I just didn’t know how to,” he said in an interview.

The Brooklyn, New York native was able to land a scholarship at the prestigious Alvin Ailey School of Dance and considered that a sure path to success as an actor. Unfortunately, he found himself pigeonholed into becoming a dancer despite his efforts. So, he stopped dancing and went back to school to redirect himself and pursue his dream.

After acting alongside Leonardo DiCaprio as Mercutio in Romeo + Juliet, the actor came to prominence with his role as the philosophical narrator Augustus Hill in the television show, Oz but it was his portrayal of the single father Michael Dawson in Lost that helped him make his first big splash in Hollywood.

Today, Perrineau recognizes that many of his roles have been acclaimed and part of fan-favorite television series.

“That's part of the job you know,” he said. “Part of what being an actor is, is being able to do stuff that people connect to...That I have been lucky enough to be a part of so many things and that I think have been a part of the conversation in this country and sometimes around the world I'm actually really glad about. So it's kind of a cool experience. And you know for me, I never know what thing a person has seen. So you know somebody will walk up to me and they'll say "Hey! You're the— from uh—tell me what you've been in again?" So, that part is always fun and... you just have to let them figure it out.”

With so many notable roles throughout his career one has to wonder just how exactly Perrineau chooses the projects to join. It’s a process that has evolved with time, he revealed.

“Now I sort of just look for things that I think are interesting to play. Things I don't mind putting out into the world,” he explained.

That means joining directors that he wants to work with and actors that he wants to share the screen with.

With his latest project, Cold Brook, Kim Coates and Perrineau had worked together before in Sons of Anarchy and Perrineau has been a fan of William Fichner.

Together, Coates and Fichner play two friends who must help Gil de Leux find his way home in a new and sweet kind of ghost story. Two ordinary guys, Ted and Hilde work as maintenance guys at the local community college. It is at the campus’ small museum that they first encounter Gil, who silently and at first unnervingly hovers over one of the display cases.

26

I find myself quite often doing roles of people who are underserved. For me as an actor, I feel that it’s really important to get in there and use all of my own feelings to convey the things that are joyous and the things that are difficult. I just really want to make sure that it’sr epresented and it’s repreented well. I go through painstaking detail to make sure that I get it right.

Confused as an intruder, the two chase him before Gil seems to vanish into thin air. They soon discover, however, that Gil is actually a ghost and one of the victims of the shipwreck the museum’s exhibit focuses on. To find peace, Gil must be reunited with his wife, a mission that Ted and Hilde stumble their way through.

All in all, Cold Brook is a different and heartwarming story that once again displays Perrineau’s strong and classical acting skills even with his limited screen time and lines.

His reunion with Coates was also fun, according to Perrineau. In Sons of Anarchy, his character Pope was the big bad for season five. He was a brutal and cold antagonist motivated to revenge his murdered daughter who meets his demise at the hands of Coates’ own character in the show.

“Kim [Coates] and I on Sons of Anarchy we would just sort of pass each other as we were working,” he said. “We didn't speak at all until the very end of my time there. It was like, "Oh hey how are you?" So this was really nice to actually hang out with him and he's such a fun guy and interesting and open. We really got to hang out and I brought my family with me to Buffalo and so it was a lot of fun.”

Cold Brook too, touched on the powerful journey someone can undertake all in the name of returning home. It’s a theme Perrineau deeply connected to.

“You know home is always a place that's really something I long for. Naturally, I travel a lot and I've always traveled a lot,” he explained. “When my mom was still alive she was sort of my connection whenever I got back, whether I was overseas touring a country or something like that, so home is always this place that regrounds me. I understood really, really well this character needing that kind of tethering to their home.”

“You know, most of us tend to really love our homes it's a place...where you feel like you can fly and thrive,” he added.

“So it makes sense to me that if your home was lost that you would desperately try to find it.

So I think it's a wonderful story of these two men helping Gil find his

way back home to love. It's really beautiful to see human beings connect like that.”

While Perrineau’s connection with home has been clear to him throughout his career, his connection with faith has been less clear, he explained.

“Faith has been a thing that has been a big part of my life and also quite confusing at times for me,” he said.

“My mom used to send us to this presbyterian Christian church when we were younger...but we didn’t always participate, it was just like another school day. But, as a teenager, I started going to these baptist churches and Pentecostal churches with some friends of mine and I was really moved by what was happening in those churches and the music there and the way that pastors spoke. It lit a fire in my belly and for a really long time I was a saved Christian and then some confusion came.”

That confusion has not necessarily gone away for Perrineau but he expanded that he has always felt “divinely protected.” While it is not something he could explain, really, he added that he has always felt like there’s a “really personal relationship” between the greater universe and himself.

“So, while I'm not a member of a church right now it is something that comes up for me regularly when I meditate and when I talk to my kids about it,” he concluded “And we sort of just work our way through it in a way that we feel connected to the world and the universe and stuff like that but not necessarily following a particular doctrine just yet until we find one that fits.”

Perrineau’s success has often also initiated conversations about race within Hollywood which he himself acknowledged at the start of the interview. It is a point he is proud of. For example, his role in Lost was a rare portrayal of a Black single father within a cast of similarly diverse characters—rare for a hit television show. Looking back on his experience with the show, he remains most proud of that.

“I was really proud to be part of this group of people that looked like this on network television. We just weren’t used to seeing that kind of diversity on television,” he revealed.

“So when the cast won the SAG award [in 2006], I was like, “Yeah, man– that’s absolutely right.”

His resume is clear example that for Perrineau, representation matters and that his acting career has been carefully measured to portray stories and characters he feels passionate about.

“I find myself quite often doing roles of people who are underserved,” he told BET. “For me as an actor, I feel that it’s really important to get in there and use all of my own feelings to convey the things that are joyous and the things that are difficult. I just really want to make sure that it’s represented and it’s represented well. I go through painstaking detail to make sure that I try to get it right.”

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