L.A. Focus On The Word February 2016 Issue

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UPFRONT: LAUSD’S First Black Superintendent Has Big Plans PAGE

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Attorney Areva Martin

BIZ NEWS: Erica Campbell Launches Hair Line PAGE

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SAVING GRACE: Preacher’s Daughter Lands Co-Starring Role on HIt Series

With his steadily increasing credibility and name I.D., a growing list of high profile African American and mainstream endorsements, a tour of historical black colleges—dubbed “Feel The Bern” and...

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contents

L.A. Focus Publication

February 2016

L-R: Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas is flanked by his wife, Avis, and Congresswoman Karen Bass at the MLK Community Health Foundation’s “Living the Dream” Luncheon (Middle) Bishop Kenneth Ulmer of Faithful Central Bible Church greets Covered California CEO Peter V. Lee at “Big Sunday” event; (Right) Mayor Eric Garcetti waves to the crowd during last month’s Martin Luther King Day Parade.

16 From The Editor 18 Red Carpet Style Upfront 7 Church News 20 Head To Head 8 First Lady Files Headlines From Africa 21 Pastor Profile Feature Story 22 10 Dollars and Sense From The Pulpit 12 23 Money Matters Through The Storm 13 25 Inside Hollywood 15One On One

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Commentary

Calendar/Around LA

Environmental Racism Slowly Killing Blacks Across America

2016 Golden Globes

LAUSD’s First Black Superintendent Has Big Plans; Clinton Moves to Shore Up Black Vote As Sanders Credibility Grows;

E.W. Gaddis Installed As President for Second Term of the California Baptist Mission Convention

Trump: Is What You See What You Get

Judi Sauls—Holman UMC

Oscars So White Controversy Sparks Awareness and Change in Hollywood

With Bob Blake

Another Downturn On The Way?

Halle Gerima’s Uphill Journey to Decolonize Film

Brandy Norwood

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writer Contributors

Lisa Collins Stephen Oduntan Larry Elder

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Marc T. Little

Photographers Advertising

Bill Jones, Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

27 28 Eye On Gospel 29 Saving Grace 30 Finding Your Pretty David & Tamela Mann

Anthony Brown Tops Stellar Award Nominations

Christina Elmore

With Chez

Miquail Broadous—Grace Temple Baptist Church

Bishop Larry Kirkland from the 2016 Prayer Bowl

staff

In Good Taste

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co. Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Law Offices of Marc T. Little

honorary advisors Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Paradise Baptist Church Dr. Aaron D. Iverso Southern MBC Rev. Xavier L. Thompson F. A.M.E. Church Dr. Cecil Murray Faithful Central Bible Church Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Rev. Melvin Wade Mt. Zion MBC Rev. E.V. Hill II

Lady In Gold: First Lady Michelle Obama stuns in what will be her last official appearance at a State of The Union address.

On The Cover: Areva Martin, Winston McKesson, Carl Douglas, George Mallory and Brian Dunn Areva photo by Russell Baer Cover Design: Joseph Anthony

West Angeles C.O.G.I.C. City of Refuge

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

Address all correspondence to: L.A. Focus, 333 W. Florence Ave., Suite C333 Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 677-6011 Fax: (310) 677-2338 Subscription rates $25.00 per year.

Copyright, January 1995 by L.A. Focus Publications. All rights reserved. Unsolicited manuscripts/photographs are not accepted, nor shall any responsibility for them be assumed.

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Commentary

Jainee A. Swift Guest Columnist

It’s not just Flint: Environmental racism is slowly killing blacks across America

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he water crisis in Flint, Michigan is more than just a natural disaster or a series of unfortunate, environmental events — it is an inexcusable, egregious human and health rights violation against a majority black city, where 56 percent of the population is African-American. With full cognizance of the hazardously toxic water supply since 2014, Governor Snyder’s lack of political action on this issue fits into the narrative that not only was this intentional, but as Flint native Michael Moore declared, it is a racial killing and genocide.

Flint is not the only city where African-Americans and people of color suffer from the onslaught of environmental racism and discrimination. Detroit schools are so heavily infested with rats, roaches and mold that more than 85 schools closed when teachers staged a sickout in protest to the deplorable conditions. In Baltimore, the levels of lead poisoning among children is three times the national rate. Before Freddie Gray became a victim of racialized state violence in Baltimore, he too was a victim of lead poisoning as a child; his blood lead levels as high as seven times the reference level given by the Centers for Disease Control.

Louisiana’s “cancer alley;” the polluting garbage and medical waste facilities in Chester, Pennsylvania; and the crude oil plant in Richmond, California, are only but a few further examples to show that Flint is not an isolated event — the poisoning of Black communities in America is certainly not a new phenomena. People of color, especially in low-income communities, have been and are continuing to be killed slowly, softly, and silently in their households, in their schools, and on their jobs with impunity – and at a greater rate than police killings and racialized state violence.

Just as with any other facet of society, physical environments are not exempt from institutional racism that also affects environmental decisions, actions and policies, which result in continued disadvantages and public health disparities. According to a 2012 NAACP report titled “Coal Blooded: Putting Profits Before People,” communities of color disproportionately encounter toxic work conditions, environmental hazards and polluted neighborhoods. The report, a systematic study of 378 coal-fired plants in the U.S., showed 75 of those plants earned an environmental justice grade of “F.” Within three miles of those 75 failing plants lived four million people, their average per capita income just $17,500 —25% lower than the state average. 53% are people of color.

Amongst the 12 worst plants, two million Americans lived within three miles, haing an average per capita income of $14,626. Approximately 76 % people of color.

Another report by the Environmental Justice and Health Alliance for Chemical Policy Reform, Coming Clean, and the Center for Effective Government also sheds lights on the interconnectedness between race and chemical disasters. The 2014 report titled “Who’s in Danger? A Demographic Analysis of Chemical Disaster Vulnerability”

From the Editor

found that more than 134 million Americans lived within danger zones around 3,433 chemical facilities. The report also found that 3.8 million lived within “fenceline” areas or zones that present greater danger; leaving those residents less time to evacuate in an event of a chemical crisis.

The “percentage of blacks in the fenceline zones is 75% greater than for the U.S. as a whole, while the percentage of Latinos in the fenceline zones is 60% greater.”

A University of Michigan study also details that minorities on average are exposed to 38 percent percent higher levels of nitrogen dioxide – produced by cars and construction equipment – than whites. The findings show that the exposure of increased nitrogen oxide is linked to asthma and heart attacks. According to the Centers for Disease Control, from 2001 to 2009, the greatest rise in asthma rates (a 50% increase) was among black children. In 2011, the asthma rate for blacks was 47% higher than for whites.

Approximately nine Americans die from asthma daily.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in accordance with the Civil Rights Act of 1964, was created to “enforce federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination against members of the public by recipients of EPA funds, and protects employees and applicants for employment from discrimination.”

Over the past 14 years, African-American residents in Tallassee, Alabama, have rallied for the removal of Stone’s Throw Landfill, which is filled with septic sewage, asbestos, and other toxic materials. With cases of environmental racism such as those in Alabama, communities seek guidance and help from the OCR, but expectedly, have not received any. “Out of 298 complaints filed across 22 years, the OCR has never made a finding of discrimination — in fact, more than half of the complaints never lead to investigations at all and were instead rejected for various reasons.”

Although the OCR is currently making changes to some of its rules — like the elimination of deadlines deciding on complaints — these modifications seem to have come a little too late for those in Tallassee; as many of the founding residents who fought to close the landfill have either moved or died.

A pioneering event which spearheaded the environmental justice movement was in Warren County, North Carolina — one of the poorest, predominantly black counties in the state. Garnering national attention for protesting against the construction of a polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) disposal landfill, the attempt at preserving the health outcomes of a poor, black area would ultimately fail; as more than 6,000 truckloads of PCB were deposited, despite public outcry. Despite the fact that these toxins were knowingly poisoning lives in a majority black community.

That was in 1982. Sadly, 34 years later, it seems little has changed.

Jaimee Swift is a journalist and activist. Follow her on Twitter @JaimeeSwift.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

Living History

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become involved with.

The thing about living history is that you hardly ever realize you are doing so. In fact, very few black trailblazers set out to make history, but to instead fill a need or to fight to make things better for their families and others, with the first to achieve a goal standing out as a beacon to all we can hope for and a symbol of what any one man can do.

I am reminded of two of five key principles cited in the book, "Success Principles", one being 'Drop out of the 'Ain’t-it-awful club' and another, "take 100% responsibility for yourself.'

"Find a way or make one" was the family phrase instilled in my siblings and cousins for as long as we could remember. It was the title of my grandfather's thesis back at Western University in 1917. It was what inspired him, the son of a former slave to become the first African-American to own a string of successful businesses in Omaha, Nebraska (including two grocery stores, a dance hall and thriving real estate company).

So many blacks who have become successful have had to find their own way. An inherent theme of self-reliance seems to be a common thread among them. They have, it seems, succeeded at doing what it is they do best: being themselves, and in the process illustrating that anything is possible.

As I visited my Dad in the hospital the other day, he reminisced about his days with Dr. King and how much greater and more appreciated he had become in death than in life. So in a month where we celebrate black history and African Americans who invented everything from traffic lights to a paper bag or broke color barriers in sports, entertainment and politics, we would do well to remember that not all of it is in our past. That blacks continue to make history every day and that many of those black history makers live among us—Barack Obama, Condoleeza Rice, Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Jim Brown, Robert Johnson, Shonda Rhimes, Kamala Harris, Ursula Burns, the first black CEO of a Fortune 500 company—to name a few.

We are living history.

Keep the faith.

L.A. Focus/February 2016

he last time I saw Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alive was in our kitchen nook and he was working on a speech. A speech he would give on the involvement of American in the Vietnam War. He and my Dad—who served as Executive Director of the Western Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC’s west coast counterpart at the time) and was in charge of the civil rights leader’s Los Angeles itinerary— had some pretty heated discussions about it. But Dr. King would follow his heart.

He would give that speech at a downtown hotel —The Ambassador—that no longer exists. The speech had already been typed out, so as he sat at the table that Saturday morning intently going over it, he made handwritten notes.

I didn't see him again that day. I imagined that my Dad put him on a plane back home to Atlanta as was the general practice, but that evening as I entered the family room where my Dad often laid his briefcase and personal items upon returning home, there was the speech.

I was just a kid, but I knew the value of it, so I stashed it in a manila envelope and filed it away in a cabinet hardly anyone ever went into. I would move it as we moved until it finally landed in a desk drawer at my mother’s house as I traveled the country.

Some years later long after Dr. King had died, while spending the day at the Atlanta home of another King lieutenant, Dt. C.T. Vivian, I was told that the King family was looking to secure any items he had left at the home of those he’d worked and marched with.

I returned home and looked for the speech. It was gone. To this day, my mother believes it may be among the countless boxes in her garage gathering dust. Where it is remains a mystery. What is not is the fact that history is a hard thing to capture and keep. Oh, sure we have monuments, artifacts and treasured—and archived— documents to remind us of our legacies and historical accounts, but we are living history right now.

It is all around us. From the historic presidential campaign we are all witnessing to the rise of ISIS to the Black Lives Matter movement many of our youth have

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UpFront LAUSD’S First Black Female Superintendent Has Big Plans For District

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ast month marked a significant moment in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

For the first time in its 163-year history, the board selected an African American woman to serve as the new superintendent.

After a three-month nationwide search, the board determined Michelle King was the only candidate capable of fixing the nation’s second-largest district.

“It is a surreal situation being the first black woman superintendent,” King told L.A. Focus. “I hope to inspire students of all races and backgrounds to pursue their dreams by demonstrating what is possible in L.A. Unified.”

Sources close to the selection process said the search was intense.

Said Zimmer after an exhaustive national search for a new superintendent that began last fall; King was the “only candidate who could speak from every level of experience in this district.”

King succeeded the recently retired Ramon Cortines, who took over shortly after former Superintendent John Deasy resigned amid mountain pressure over the botched $1 billion iPad-for every-student project—currently under FBI investigation.

Tough job ahead.

The iPad debacle aside, King faces big challenges in a district where academic achievement is still below state averages.

Moreover, student enrollment dropped 20 percent in the last eight years, according to a 2015 report, which also revealed the school district lost 100,000 students in the past six years, in part due to the parent-driven mass exodus to charter schools.

In a recent interview since taking office, King acknowledged while there are pressing matters that may present

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unique challenges; she remains cautiously optimistic.

“We have to restore the trust we lost. We have to assure the public we are the district of choice, a place where they would want to bring their students to so we can educate them.”

King highlighted several new initiatives she has embraced: these include singlegender campuses. Two for girls are scheduled to open in the fall. Further, integrate science concepts into curriculums. And programs that will increase the likelihood students will become fluent in a second language at an early age.

The new superintendent spoke passionately about providing the youth and in “particular children of color” access to things they have been denied.

“Sometimes I was one of few African American students in a particular higher-level class,” King told reporters during a recent visit to Century Park Elementary School, where she attended kindergarten.

King was describing another well-docu-

STEPHEN ODUNTAN Staff Writer

mented problem called ‘tracking’ that has plagued the school district. African American and Latino students (for the most part) are kept out of higher-level classes because they fail to meet entrance requirements such as grades, admission tests, teacher recommendations and other factors often beyond their control.

At the same time, King’s appointment also comes as the district grapples with a budget deficit upwards in millions and millions of dollars, an issue King said would be among her chief priorities. She believes the approach should center on making fiscally prudent choices within a long-range vision.

“There are two large challenges before me, one, of course, is our fiscal situation, and secondly, making sure we can have a three-year balance budget,” King said.

She added, “We have the resources that our kids deserve.

King, 54, graduated from UCLA with a biology degree and holds a master’s degree in administration from Pepperdine University.

She has worked at L.A. Unified since 1978 when she started as a student aide and taught at places such as Porter Middle School in Granada Hills.

Longtime district observers describe her as someone who quickly worked her way up through the management ranks because she exhibited diligence, unwavering commitment, and always a team player loyal to her superiors.

LAUSD board president Steve Zimmer said King has “committed her life to the achievements of our students” and called her a “daughter to our city.”

The 30-year veteran educator became a woman of two unique first. She’s not only the first black female but also the first continued to page 24

Clinton Moves To Shore Up Black Vote As Sanders Credibility Grows Killer Mike, Zoe Kravitz, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, George Lopez, Danny DeVito, Bill Maher, director Malcolm Lee, Erica Garner, the eldest daughter of Eric Garner, who died at the hands of police in New York and MoveOn.org.

He’s betting that victories in Iowa and New Hampshire would surely get more blacks to take him seriously, but the real test will be South Carolina, a state wehre over 50% of the primary voters were black.

The battle for Sanders will be uphill as a November poll of black potential South Carolina voters found that 80% supported Clinton, though he has made some inroads securing the support of a growing number of black South Carolina lawmakers.

At the heart of his argument for votes is a civil rights voting record that earned him near-perfect ratings from the NAACP, that he marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr; that he would combat income inequality and injustice across the board and get law enforcement to radically rethink police procedures, raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour, provide free universal childcare and tuition-free college, and creating jobs programs for youth.

If Hillary can help it, those arguments will fall deaf on the ears of most black voters as she pushes for a complete overhaul of the criminal justice system, an end to “mass incarceration”, reversing the GOP’s efforts to weaken voting rights laws; while fighting for ObamaCare and calling for a “new New Deal for communities of color.”

Backers include Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, Rev. Bernice King, 33 members of the Congressional Black Caucus, former Attorney General Eric Holder, Jessica Alba, Usher, Beyonce, Angela Bassett, Jamie Foxx, Tom Hanks, Kerry Washington, Chris Rock, Eva Longoria, Magic Johnson, Samuel L. Jackson, 50 Cent, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Kanye West and a host of politicians— including 50 black mayors.

Because of them, she will have an easier time getting into black churches and gatherings where the message is likely to be validated in larger numbers.

Leaving nothing to chance, she is pulling out the big guns in the form of former President Bill Clinton and daughter, Chelsea Clinton who have begun stumping for her, playing up the familiarity factor. continued to page 24

Rare Mosquito Has Los Angeles Health Officials on Edge Health officials confirmed last Tuesday a young girl from Los Angeles County who traveled to El Salvador was infected with the Zika virus.

The infection has been linked to cases of microcephaly, in which babies are born with underdeveloped brains.

Before 2013 only a handful of Zika cases had been documented. But health officials began sounding the alarm after multiple outbreaks were discovered in Pacific islands and Southeast Asia. The virus has since spread to Brazil, where officials estimate there could be as many as 1.5 million people infected.

There is no indication the viruses currently are transmitted by mosquitoes in California, but have been found here in the last few years. In total, they've been detected in 12 of the state's 58 counties, officials say.

U.S. state and local health officials are worried that the virus is spreading far and fast, with devastating consequences.

The World Health Organization puts the virus in the same category of concern as Ebola.

"I am now declaring that the recent cluster of microcephaly and other neurological abnormalities reported in Latin America following a similar cluster in French Polynesia in 2014 constitutes a public health emergency of international concern."

Diversity Wins Out At SAG Awards Outstanding performance by actors of color won big at the Screen Actors Guild Awards last Saturday night—a notable and far contrast to the Academy Awards’ all-white nominees.

Beast of No Nation actor Idris Elba, whose Oscar snub fueled this year’s continued backlash against the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science, took home a pair of trophies for two separate performances during the evening ceremony (Outstanding performance by a male actor in a Supporting Role in Beast of No Nation, and for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries, Luther).

In his acceptance speech, Elba said, "We made a film about real people and real lives, you know, and to be awarded for it is very special because a lot of people were damaged through that."

Actress Queen Latifah was another big winner that night. The 45-year-old star nabbed a trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in Television Movie or Miniseries for her portrayal of blue singer Bessie Smith in the HBO biopic, Bessie.

Other winners include Viola Davis who won a Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series trophy for How to Get Away With Murder and Uzo Aruba for Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series for Orange Is the New Black.

L.A. Focus/February 2016

ith his steadily increasing credibility and name I.D., a growing list of high profile African American and mainstream endorsements, a tour of historical black colleges—dubbed “Feel The Bern” and led

by Cornel West, ads on urban radio stations and personal appearances, Bernie Sanders is looking to take a bite out of the black vote staked out by Hillary Clinton. A vote most believe he can’t win without.

“If the elections were held today, just among the African-American vote, we would lose,” Sanders acknowledged in an interview with NPR last November.

National polls show her trouncing him in the polls when it comes to favorability ratings on the part of black voters.

A recent Gallup poll found that 43% of black had a favorable opinion of Sanders, while 86% viewed Hillary Clinton favorably. A Fox News poll showed Clinton with 71% of the non-white vote nationally and yet another poll put her at 80%, but a more recent poll showed Sanders as closing the gap at just 22 points behind Clinton with black voters.

In the meantime, his growing list of endorsers include West, Outkast member Antwan Andre Patton (aka Big Boi),

News Briefs

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The Trump Card: Is What You See What You Get?

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o Republicans who are get taxpayer incentives to conScarier to the livid, fearful, anxious tinue making the stuff. and/or unhappy about Because ethanol produced in 'Establishment' the prospect of a Donald Trump the U.S. is made from corn, it Than Bernie nomination and a Donald crowds out land that would Sanders Trump presidency, consider otherwise be used for other this. crops, artificially jacking up their prices, He claims his wealth allows him to self- too. And it reduces the corn available for fund, putting him in a position to downsize sale as animal feed, increasing the producand de-corporatize crony government in a tion costs for meat, poultry, dairy and eggs. way unrivaled in political history. It takes Right now, billionaire Sheldon Adelson about $1 billion to run — and win — the is reportedly deciding presidency, and fundraising normally occu- whether to back pies much of the candidates' time. To get Marco Rubio or Ted that kind of money, the average candidate Cruz. spends time courting and currying favor In the last election with "special interests." This means cycle, he gave $15 unions, environmentalists, corporate wel- million to the candifare-ists and others give money and, in dacy of Newt exchange, expect their interests to be at Gingrich. In exchange the very least listened to, if not carried out for his millions, do Larry Elder once in office. you think Adelson For example, rich, profitable corpora- would expect a tions such as Boeing and Royal Dutch Shell President Rubio or a President Cruz to have, over the years, received billions of return his calls? Years ago during the sodollars in tax subsidies. Some of the money called Keating Five scandal, a reporter comes straight from federal grants, with asked banker Charles Keating, a man at most of the money coming from state and the center of the controversy, whether he local governments in the form of tax cred- thought the money he gave politicians its or abatements, or for "training" their bought influence. He replied, "I certainly employees — something they can and hope so." should do with their own darn money.

Because of Trump something may finalMoney-losing boondoggles like Amtrak ly get done about our borders, "catch and defy logic, common sense, and Economics release," sanctuary cities and so-called 101 by still receiving billions from taxpay- birthright citizenship. A lot of influential ers. Government unions and government Republican-supporting big businesses — agencies, just like private corporate inter- whose money Trump doesn't need — want ests, grease the palms of politicians. cheap labor. That alone makes his candidaOne of the prime reasons for the hous- cy important. ing meltdown was the power and influence As to minority voters, one poll — and it of government-sponsored entities like may be an outlier — last September found Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, both of that in a hypothetical head-to-head against which, over the years, gave millions of dol- Hillary Clinton, Trump would get the suplars to the very politicians who supposedly port of 25 percent of the 100 voters who were overseeing them. identified themselves as black — four Dairy producers are guaranteed a profit times the amount Mitt Romney received. through taxpayer giveaways to mostly And, despite his "hostility" to Hispanics, wealthy producers. A program that began the same poll found Trump getting about during the Great Depression persisted and as much of their support — 31 percent — grew bigger, disproportionally benefiting as did Romney. wealthy producers and artificially jacking Yes, Trump takes a lot of dumb, popup the price of milk. Same with sugar. We ulist positions. His attack on free trade is subsidize a handful of wealthy sugar pro- Bernie Sanders-like. His support for the ducers, guaranteeing them a profit — Supreme Court's Kelo decision, which while artificially boosting the wholesale allows government to take land from a priprice of sugar in the U.S., making it more vate owner to be used by a different private than double the average price in the rest of owner for private, for-profit purposes, is the world. also flat-out wrong. But he spent his career Ethanol is a completely unnecessary making money, not analyzing policy posicontinued to page 24 product produced by manufacturers who

Headlines From Africa Burundi: The African Union is pushing to get President Pierre Nkurunziza to allow 5,000 peacekeepers into his nation where more than 400 people have been killed since his highly controversial election. Nkurunziza, however, says he would consider any such move, an invasion.

Sanctions may be considered as the AU fears the festering crisis could lead to an ethnic conflict rivaling the Rwanda genocide.

Cameroon: Store owners are putting pressure on the military to stop Boko Haram militants from attacking trucks that transport goods to local businesses hurting the economies of Chad and northern Cameroon.

L.A. Focus/February 2016

The Congo: The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that increased kidnappings of aid workers and civilians coupled with attacks on convoys have forced some organizations to delay the delivery of aid and other essential operations or suspend activities entirely.

Eritrea: In an attempt to transition from a dictatorship to a more liberal economy, prompt a fiscal makeover and stop the tide of refugees leaving the country, the Eritrean government is changing its currency, the nakfa, and is making an effort to increase opportunity.

Gambia: Gambia has declared that Female workers no longer be allowed to expose their hair and instead to “use head ties and neatly wrap their hair” in a memo circulated to all ministries and departments just one month after President Yahya Jammeh declared the nation to be an Islamic republic. With the move, it becomes the second Islamic republic in Africa. (Mauritania is the first).

Ghana: Ghana is seeking assistance from the World Health Organization to battle an outbreak of meningitis that has left 38 people dead. Health authorities have assured citizens they will do whatever it takes to halt the outbreak and are intensifying their efforts at public education.

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Ivory Coast: In a trial that got underway last month, Laurent Gbagbo, former president of the Ivory Coast, pleaded

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f all the many things said Grow about Donald Trump, what was said by Roger Ailes, head of the Fox News Channel, said it all in just two words: "Grow up!"

It is amazing how many people have been oblivious to this middle-aged man's spoiled brat behavior, his childish boastfulness about things he says he is going to do, and his petulant response to every criticism with ad hominem replies.

He has boasted that his followers would stick by him even if he committed murder. But is that something to boast about? Is it not an insult to his followers, if it is true?

Moreover, his cockiThomas Sowell ness is misplaced, because he still does not have a majority among Republican voters, while you need a majority of all the voters to win any state in the general election.

Trump has a showman's talent for telling people what they want to hear. But you can listen in vain for a coherent argument from him, based on facts and logic, much less an understanding of the inherent limitations of the office of president.

More than two centuries ago, Edmund Burke said: "Constitute government how you please, infinitely the greater part of it must depend upon the exercise of the powers which are left at large to the prudence and uprightness of ministers of state."

In other words, the personal character of the people to whom you entrust the powers of government matters even more than what kinds of government institutions there are. There have been some good kings and some bad presidents...

In a world where the future of this country is threatened from within by increasingly angry polarization, and where external threats can become nuclear, are we really going to entrust the safety of the country to a man who still needs to grow up? Is the fact that he loudly expressed our own disgust with the political establishment a sufficient reason to gamble the whole future of the country by putting him in the White House?

The White House is not a place for onthe-job training. You are supposed to be ready, or at the very least grown up, before you walk in the door. Aging happens auto-

matically, but maturity is optional — and it is an option Donald Trump has not yet chosen to exercise.

The issue that Trump raised about Ted Cruz's having been born in Canada is not the first time he has tried to challenge where someone was born. "The Donald" was among those who tried to say that Barack Obama was not born an American citizen, and who disgraced themselves, while undermining other critics of Obama who had serious objections to his policies.

On the other hand, messianic demagogues have often spoken at least part of the truth. But they have also often led their followers to their doom, whether at Jonestown, Stalingrad or innumerable other places. That is a very high price to pay for an exhilaration of the moment.

Donald Trump is not the only one who needs to act like an adult. With this country starting to unravel from within, while ruthless enemies overseas are developing both nuclear weapons and intercontinental missiles to deliver them, we face problems that cannot be solved by candidates with glib words or by voters who vote for whoever meets their emotional needs.

If you don't understand the issues, but want to do your patriotic duty, then stay home on election night, whether in the primaries or in the national election in November. Uninformed voters turn elections into a game of playing Russian roulette with the future of America.

Conservative candidates will also have an opportunity to show their maturity and patriotism. This is not the first primary season in which the conservative vote has been split among so many Republican candidates that it virtually guarantees that someone who is not a conservative will win the Republican nomination.

At some point during the primary season, it becomes clear that some candidates have no real chance of winning the nomination, much less the general election. At that point they can either continue hanging on, keeping the conservative vote split, or they can withdraw and throw their support to some other conservative candidate who has a chance. A lot of people need to grow up, and to do something for this country that has done so much for them.

Up!

Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University.

Visit www.tsowell.com. Copyright 2016 Creators.Com

A look at current news from the continent of Africa not guilty to charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity— murder, rape and persecution—in connection with the civil conflict that erupted when he lost an election runoff in 2010. The trial at the Hague is expected to be lengthy.

Kenya: Improving on trade and tackling terrorism were the issues topping the agenda of recent bilateral talks between Kenya and Nigeria. “The partnership with Nigeria is not about individuals but two great economies & it will withstand the test of time”, Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta posted on Instagram just after the meetings.

Malawi: Quoting scripture, Pastor Maurice Katema of the Soul Winners Church,advised government officials against laws allowing homosexuality, calling it a sign of evil that would attract God’s wrath.

Mali: The UN reports deem the humanitarian and security situation in northern Mali to be challenging as the Malian government is struggles to iron out a peace deal with separatist Tuareg rebels.

Mozambique: Government officials announced that a restriction on the use of bank cards outside of the country will remain in force to as one of the measures intended to allow for a recovery of Mozambique's international reserves, in order to help insure the country's economic stability. Large sums of money leaving the country due to the unrestrained use of bank cards abroad had drained the nation’s reserves.

Nigeria: To foster greater trade and cooperation, Kenya and Nigeria are seeking to establish a duty-free trade zone between the two countries.

Rwanda: Paul Rusesabagina, who was credited with saving 1,268 in his Rwanda hotel during the 1996 genocide (as famously portrayed by Don Cheadle in the 2004 film, Hotel Rwanda) has announced that he will run for president of the East African nation he fled two decades ago. Rusesabagina hopes to liberate the country from dictatorship and corruption, while ruling President Paul Kagame has said he will seek another term in 2017.

Senegal: Officials are reveling in the discovery of huge offshore gas reserves that would allow the nation to be self-sufficient in energy, while exporting gas to the rest of the world.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:21 PM Page 9

California Endowment Takes The Lead In Obama’s Boys & Men of Color Initiative

T

In the wake of the Trayvon Martin killing, President Barack Obama issued a challenge to cities, towns, and counties across the country to become “My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) communities,” and help demographics disadvantaged by generations of inequality.

Subsequently, Obama would later expand his project, officially launching the measure in 2014 and calling it the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, which in part mirrors the goals of the MBK, but partners with celebrities, top business leaders, professional athletes, civil rights leaders, local leaders and other stakeholders.

The California Endowment is among those partners, leading an effort to bring to fruition Obama’s call for action with the “Sons and Brothers” mentoring program—an initiative designed to help remedy the disparities suffered disproportionately by young men and boys of color.

The organization had worked closely in concert in helping the president draft what many consider Obama’s post-

STEPHEN ODUNTAN Staff Writer

presidential life, legacy signature policy, by providing “intellectual and financial resources” for the program.

Last year, California Endowment’s CEO Robert Ross, said his organization had already pledged $50 million over seven years for its “sons and brothers” program— efforts intended to reduce school absences and suspensions among young black children and boost their third grade reading proficiency.

“African American, Latino, Southeast Asian, and Native American boys tend to have the lowest graduation rates; the highest incarceration rates; the least likely to have health insurance; and the most likely to be victims of crime, said Charles Fields, California Endowment’s Regional Program Manager.

“And so it’s essential we have a special set of resources targeted toward these segments of our population to improve their health, wellness, and opportunity,” he told L.A. Focus.

“When you look at the life course of particularly young African American boys,” continued Fields, “there tend to be these points in the trajectory where we see them go off track. And so there’s a greater need to invest in resources that would keep these kids on a straight path to becoming productive citizens.”

Founded in 1996, California Endowment has a long history championing health equality and providing financial support for nonprofit groups that work directly around issues impacting young men and boys from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

As part of an ongoing effort to combat these social ills, Fields said it is critical Endowment focuses on three key milestones: third grade reading, high school graduation, and postsecondary certification.

Data confirms students who drop out of school is deeply connected to declining literacy and reading comprehension.

According to a 2011 Annie E. Casey Foundation national longitudinal study, high school students who do not read proficiently by third grade are four times more likely to drop out than students who demonstrated third grade reading proficiency.

The study also found that California ranks near the bottom of states in reading proficiency. Moreover, a staggering 85 percent of students from low-income families fail to meet third and fourth grade standards.

Fields points out there’s also an undeniable connection between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime.

“If students are not reading proficiently by the end of third grade, they’re at greater risk of getting caught up in activity that will get them connected to the criminal justice system,” Fields said. This, coupled with disparities in school discipline that often end up sending students into the prison pipeline through zero tolerance policies.

He said when young kids are behaving badly in school; the solution isn’t to simply “kick them out of school” but rather find competent incentives such as mentoring and tutoring, which, in the long run, would “divert” troubled students from juvenile correctional facilities.

To that end, Endowment aims to build and strengthen positive bridges of understanding and communication between school officials, law enforcement, and young minorities while at the same time reducing incarceration rates.

Fields contends reform efforts must place greater access to mental health services for young adults because many of the challenges in the juvenile justice system stem from health issues. Proper treatment and rehabilitative services dealing with substance abuse and violence he said could help several young adults currently in the juvenile system become healthy and productive members of society.

“We need to make sure young people have the things they need on the front end, and then we won’t need to worry about our youth getting involved in criminal activity.

“When we make smart investments in our young people, we don’t tend to see problems. But all too often, society doesn’t make those investments, and as a result, young people end up making bad decisions.

“That needs to change.”

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:21 PM Page 10

STEPHEN ODUNTAN Staff Writer

O

n a February evening in 1940 at the Coconut Grove Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, the woman soon to be the first black actor to win an Academy Award was seated at a segregated table away from all the white guests, including cast mates.

Wearing a royal blue dress, along with gardenia in her hair, Hattie McDaniel rose to applause and walked the long walk to the podium where she delivered a tearful Oscar acceptance speech— reportedly written by studio executives—for her role as Mammy to Scarlet O’Hara in the epic film ‘Gone With the Wind.’

"I sincerely hope I shall always be a credit to my race and the motion picture industry," a sobbing McDaniel said before she exited the podium, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief.

It’s been nearly 80 years since McDaniel’s bittersweet moment of triumph, however with the ongoing racial controversy surrounding the Academy Award nomination, some question, with the exception of seating, just how much things have changed?

Back then, as now, talented black actors have fought an uphill battle to gain recognition for their work and worth to the Hollywood film industry.

With the announcement last month of the nominations for the 88th Annual Academy Awards, that battle was brought front and center generating headlines across the nation and reigniting the #Oscars So White hash tag campaign that was birthed in January 2015 by April Reign, managing editor of BroadwayBlack.com.

Through Twitter, Reign expressed her dismay over the lack of diversity in the nominations and the exclusion of director Ava DuVernay and British-Nigerian actor David Oyelowo, both of whom received critical acclaim for “Selma”, the historical drama based on Martin Luther King’s Selma to Montgomery voting rights march in 1965.

For the second consecutive year no minorities were nominated in any of the four acting categories. Those snubbed include Idris Elba (“Beast of No Nation”), Will Smith (“Concussion”), Samuel L. Jackson (“Hateful Eight”), Michael B. Jordan (“Creed)—which only garnered nominations for Sylvester Stallone in the best supporting actor category—and the hit film, Straight Outta Compton.

The movie, chronicling the rise and fall of the Compton hip hop group, N.W.A., became the highest grossing music biopic in history and scored critical reviews, but was notably absent from the best picture category.

The response was swift from A-list celebrities Jada Pinkett Smith and Spike Lee who announced via social media they would not attend the Oscar ceremonies.

In his scathing message to the Academy, Lee said,"40 white actors in two years and no flava at all. We can't act?! WTF!!"

“

I ain’t gonna kiss no a** for nothing. Maybe that is the problem, or maybe we should have put a slave in Straight Outta Compton.

I think that’s where we messed up…It’s cool to be recognized – but people recognized this movie back in August when it did $200 million at the box office.

”

Lee, who was given an honorary Oscar at the Academy’s annual Governor’s Ball last November, added that he wouldn’t attend the "lily white" ceremony because MLK Jr. would have wanted it that way.

Pinkett Smith, 44, posted a video on her Facebook page asking people of color to recognize the power they have amassed in the past several decades.

"Begging for acknowledgement, or even asking, diminishes dignity and diminishes power. And we are a dignified people, and we are powerful,” she said. “So let’s let the Academy do them, with all grace and love. And let’s do us, differently."

Describing his wife as "deeply passionate" Will Smith, threw his weight behind Pinkett Smith.

"There’s a position that we hold in this community and if we’re not a part of the solution we’re part of the problem," Smith said.

"I ain’t gonna kiss no a** for nothing. Maybe that is the problem, or maybe we should have put a slave in Straight Outta Compton," stated Ice Cube in a radio interview, referring to Lupita Nyong’o’s 2014 best supporting actress win for 12 Years a Slave.

"I think that’s where we messed up…It’s cool to be recognized – but people recognized this movie back in August when it did $200 million at the box office."

The story gained even more legs when Hollywood A-lister George Clooney weighed in, observing that the Academy was moving in the wrong direction and that there should be more opportunities, while adding that “for Hispanics, it’s even worse.”

Not everyone agreed. Statements from those like nominee Charlotte Rampling only added fuel to the fire. The actress, nominated for her role in “45 Years” said, "We can never know if it was really the case, but perhaps the black actors did not deserve to be in the final straight." Moreover, calls for a boycott over an allwhite acting nominee list are "racist to whites."

Veteran British actor Michael Caine said black actors should be "patient".

"It took me years to get an Oscar, years,” he added. “In the end you can’t vote for an actor because he’s black."

Many however point to a long history of patience in a ceremony that has largely been an all-white affair. While many great black actors have won Academy Awards—most recently Forest Whitaker (named Best Actor in 2007), Halle Berry (Best Actress in 2002 and Morgan Freeman (Best Supporting Actor in 2005)–they are exceptions in a process that’s stubbornly dominated by older white men.

The controversy shifted into high gear, as just about everyone in Hollywood had an opinion. Some, including Tyrese Gibson,

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SNUBBED: l-r: Samuel L. Jackson (“Hateful Eight”), Michael B. Jordan (“Creed”), Will Smith (“Concussion”) and Idris Elba “Beasts Of No Nation”) called for Chris Rock to step down as Oscar host. Most concurred that the makeup of eight-decade old Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences was the biggest part of the problem. An L.A. Times study found Oscar voters to be 94% Caucasian and 77% male, with blacks making up about 2% of the academy, and Latinos less than 2%.

"It isn’t just the Academy Awards, the entire American system is rife with white privilege-racism," said Mark Ruffalo who is nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Spotlight."

Casting director Twinkie Byrd ("Fruitvale Station", “Being Mary Jane”) attributed the lack of inclusion to fear.

"If we are not being acknowledged let alone awarded for our contributions" then in actuality the Oscar nominees "are not competing against the best."

"The only way things will change is when black and brown people have their own organizations," Scandal star Joe Morton told reporters at the 47th NAACP Image Awards in Beverly Hills.

"When we are in a position where it’s not the Board of Governor’s [but rather] it’s the [minority] CEO who can say ‘I’m going to give the green light on this film;’ that’s when we’ll be recognized for our work."

"We're sick and tired of supporting a cause that is not supporting our art," said Reverend K.W. Tulloss, president of the L.A. chapter of Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network.

"We’ve had some great individuals who were fantastic in films this year. But as usual, the academy that promised us last year they were going to make some changes to increase diversity has done nothing to make that a reality. So we’ve called on people to tune out this year’s Oscar’s, and we are looking forward to it being a success."

Rev. Al Sharpton reiterated the boycott theme saying, "It reflects a 21st Century with 50-year-old culture. This is a total exclusion of our talent and our abilities. Hollywood has become like the Rocky Mountains: the higher up you get, the whiter it is," said the civil rights leader.

"What we can’t control is the Academy, the way it is now; what we can’t control is the Hollywood studios, the way they are now; but we can control the remote dials in our homes," he pointed out.

Sharpton’s calls for blacks to tune out have also drawn questions.

"Maybe Rev. Sharpton doesn’t know this,” L.A. political consultant Jasmyne Cannick notes, “but most Americans watch the Oscars for the red carpet first and then for the actual ceremony.

"Blacks as a whole don’t watch the Oscars. Sure, some of us do, but not in the numbers that would matter. And even if every black in the country with a television tuned out, it wouldn’t make

OSCAR’S COLORED HISTORY 1939 1963 1982 1989

the President for three-year terms.

She insisted the new measures would have an immediate impact and that the Board is determined to boost the diversity of the Academy by 2020.

Pinkett Smith applauded the Academy’s actions.

"I would like to express my gratitude to the Academy, specifically Cheryl Boone Isaacs, for such a quick response regarding the issue at hand. I look forward to the future," Smith wrote on Twitter.

Selma director Ava DuVernay tweeted that the move was "one good step in a long, complicated journey for people of color + women artists."

Lee, still adamant he would not be attending the Oscars, said passionate dialog over the Academy Awards issue has been productive.

"Everybody is getting their point of view in, and we’ll see who’s on the right side of history and who’s on the wrong side of history."

Steve McQueen, the only black director to have ever won an Oscar for Best Picture (for 12 Years a Slave), told a reporter for the British national daily newspaper, The Guardian, that he hopes "in 12 months or so we can look back and say this was a watershed moment, and thank God we put that right.

"One could talk about percentages of certain people who are Academy members and the demographics and so forth,” McQueen continued, "but the real issue is movies being made.

Decisions being made by heads of studios, TV companies and cable companies about what is and is not being made. That is the start. That is the root of the problem."

April Reign, the woman who started it all with her #Oscars so white hash tag, is pleased with the progress.

Said Reign, "I am very encouraged by the fact that the vote the board of governors took was unanimous to make these changes”, though adding that there was still a need for those who green light the films “to make substantial changes to their thought processes and perspectives."

In the meantime, the man emceeing the Oscars, Rock, who once called L.A. "a slave state" and showbiz "a white industry" is hard at work writing new material for the event.

Oscar-nominated actor Don Cheadle is excited about what he’ll have to say.

"This is a perfect opportunity to take everyone to task — and nobody does it better than Chris, you know what I mean? He can skewer the entirety of society with this and on a world stage. I hope it turns out to be one of the greatest moments we've ever seen in television history."

The Oscar’s will air on ABC Feb. 28.

Hattie McDaniels was the first black actor to win an Oscar in 1939. In the years since 13 black actors and actresses have received Oscars for their work. Here’s a recap: 1996 2001

2004 2004

Cuba Gooding, Supporting Actor, “Jerry Maguire” Denzel Washington, Best Actor, “Training Day” Halle Berry, Best Actress, “Monster’s Ball” Jamie Foxx, Best Actor, “Ray” Morgan Freeman. Supporting Actor, “Million Dollar Baby”

2006

2009 2011 2013

Forest Whitaker, Best Actor, “The Last King of Scotland” Jennifer Hudson, Supporting Actress, “Dreamgirls” Mo’Nique, Supporting Actress, “Precious” Octavia Spencer, Supporting Actress, “The Help” Lupita Nyong’o, Supporting Actress, “12 Years A Slave”

Blacks nominated in the best actor category include: Laurence Fishburne, James Earl Jones, Dexter Gordon, Paul Winfield, Morgan Freeman (4); Will Smith (2), Don Cheadle, Terrence Howard and Chiwetel Ejiofor • Best actress nominees include Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross, Cicely Tyson, Diahann Carroll, Angela Bassett, Gabourey Sidibe, Viola Davis and Quvenzhane´ Wallis • Supporting Actor nominees: Rupert Crosse, Howard Rollins, Adolph Caesar, Samuel L. Jackson, Eddie Murphy, Djimon Hounsou, Barkhad Abdi and Jaye Davidson • Supporting Actress nominees: Ethel Waters, Beah Richards, Alfre Woodard, Margaret Avery, Oprah Winfrey, Queen Latifah, Taraji P. Henson, Ruby Dee, Juanita Moore, Sophie Okonedo, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Viola Davis

OTHER NOTABLE OSCAR WINNERS Prince—Best Score (“Purple Rain”); Stevie Wonder—Best Song (“I Just Called To Say I Love You”); Lionel Richie—Best Song (“Say You, “Say Me”; Isaac Hayes —Best Song (“Theme From Shaft”); John Legend & Common— Best Song (“Glory”); Steve McQueen—Best Picture (“12 Years A Slave”)

L.A. Focus/February 2016

1990

Hattie McDaniel, Supporting Actress, “Gone With The Wind” Sidney Poitier, Best Actor, “Lilies of the Field” Louis Gossett, Jr, Supporting Actor, “An Officer & A Gentleman” Denzel Washington, Supporting Actor, “Glory” Whoopi Goldberg, Supporting Actrees, “Ghost”

one bit of difference. Why? Because when was the last time you saw a commercial during the Academy Awards that was targeted toward black people?"

"You can’t boycott something that you never went to anyway," Ice Cube observed.

While questioning the wisdom of boycotting, Cannick went on suggest that the most thoughtful call to action would be for black actors to merge with Hollywood white liberals and gather enough momentum for a total boycott of the event altogether.

"White Hollywood needs to sit this one out. Them not being there is a much louder and more sincere statement than their attending and saying something political in their speech about the lack of blacks as they accept their award in their fancy clothes and jewels and exit stage left to do media interviews."

Clueless actress-turned-conservative pundit Stacey Dash called a boycott of the Oscars “ludicrous”, adding that African American targeted institutions should be eliminated.

"We have to make up our minds," she explained. “Either we want to have segregation or integration. And if we don’t want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the Image Awards where you’re only awarded if you’re Black…It’s a double standard."

Dr. Darnell Hunt, director of the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies at UCLA said Dash does not quite understand how structural racism works.

"Racism involves systemic relations that stem from power; something blacks generally don’t have.

"Blacks, he added, historically haven’t had the luxury to integrate, which wasn’t a matter of choice. Therefore, we had to find other ways to survive.

"So for Stacy Dash to criticize BET, and other black publications on Fox News, well, if anything, she’s going to get a great deal of attention since mainstream society loves to hear prominent black people criticize each other."

Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first black president of the Academy, said she was “disappointed” by the lack of diversity and in light of the recent controversy, the Academy approved a series of significant changes in an initiative called A2020 designed to make its voting membership more diverse.

Beginning later this year, each new member’s voting status will last 10 years, and will be renewed if that new member has been active in motion pictures during that decade. At the same time, the Academy will supplement the traditional process in which current members sponsor new members by launching an ambitious, global campaign to identify and recruit qualified new members who represent greater diversity; and in order to immediately increase diversity on the Board of Governors, the Academy will establish three new governor seats that will be nominated by

11

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Dollars and ense You’ve heard the age old saying, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”, but it couldn’t be any more appropriate with El Nino looming, and when it comes to flood preparedness.

All it takes is a few inches of water to cause major damage to your home and its contents and believe it or not everyone lives in a flood zone–it's just a question of whether you live in a low, moderate, or high risk area. L.A. is not immune.

In 1938, a pair of Pacific storms bringing abnormally high rainfall—causing the Santa Ana, Los Angeles, and San Gabriel Rivers to burst their banks — resulted in the loss of more than 100 lives and upwards of $40 million in damages.

The Baldwin Hills dam collapse of 1963 released 250 million US gallons of water on surrounding neighborhoods resulting in five deaths and the destruction of 277 homes.

Last month, El Nino brought rain and powerful wind to Southern California with Beverly Hills experiencing wind gusts topping 61 mph. Forecasters say, it is but a sampling of what we can expect until El Nino weakens through the spring. Four years ago when similar El Nino conditions hit southern California I was directly affected by the flooding. My office location here in Long Beach flooded with over 18 inches of standing water.

And after all my years of cautioning others about the potential of flood disasters, I, Bob Blake— one of the appointed Insurance Commissioners for Los Angeles County— was not prepared. I had to spend thousands of dollars out of my pocket to get emergency crews in to rip out the hardwood floors, remove the water, treat for mold, pay for damaged computer equipment and furniture etc. This could have been avoided if I had just added a flood rider to my existing insurance policy.

On February 11 2016, at 11am the Honorable

Bob Blake is President of Bob Blake & Associates Inc. and has more than 27 years experience in life & disability insurance market. To learn more visit www.bobblakeinc.com or call (562) 437-7723.

Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas will be holding a press conference for all County residents to make them aware of their fiduciary responsibility to protect their homes and property. Below is the tip sheet providing basic information you need. It does not matter if you rent or own you can still cover your family by adding this policy to your property insurance or renters insurance. Make sure you call your insurance agent to discuss your options.

L.A. County Commission Flood Insurance Tip Sheet l Your homeowners policy does not cover flood damage to your home or personal property. l You don’t have to own property to buy flood insurance.

Renters can buy coverage for their personal property. l Standard Business Property policies do not cover Flood damage. Businesses can purchase Flood Insurance as well. l Plan ahead; it takes 30 days after you have applied for Flood coverage for your policy to take effect. l Don’t assume you’re immune from Flood damage. 25% of Flood claims come from moderate to low risk flood areas. l Don’t assume you will qualify for Federal Assistance from Flood damage. Not all Floods are considered disaster areas that are subject to Federal Assistance. l Federal Assistance is a loan that must be repaid. l Remember; a few inches of water can cause thousand’s of dollars in damage. l Contact your homeowners insurance agent or www.FloodSmart.com for information and a quote for flood insurance.

Visit www.lacounty.gov/elnino for Storm Resources, Preparedness and information for home and business owners.

Of course, you can always call me to answer your flood—or any other type of insurance —questions as it’s my goal to make sure my community gets the information they need to be better informed on how to keep and grow personal and financial assets.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:21 PM Page 13

MoneyMatters

G

Another Economic Downturn On The Way?

ov. Jerry Brown expressed caution when looking at the state of California in his recent State of the State address to lawmakers. While some African American legislative leaders are advocating to restore dollars for programs cut in past years, Brown is asking lawmakers to focus on current liabilities and building the rainy day fund. He said, over the next three years, there could be a possible downturn of as much as $55 billion in state revenue.

Brown’s warning of economic scarcity comes when the state boasts of a budget surplus of an estimated $6 billion and a state GDP of some $2.3 trillion.

“Since the Second World War, we have experienced 10 recessions, none of them expected or accurately predicted,” cautions Brown. “Economists are unable to pinpoint when a recession will begin or how long it will last.”

For African Americans, many unemployed, underemployed and living in some of the most economically depressed regions of the state, a recession of that magnitude would be dire.

Almost five years since the official end of the Great Recession in 2009, many Black Californians are still struggling to recover. During the downturn, which began in 2007 – the worst since the Great Depression of the 1930s - Blacks across the country lost millions of jobs.

From 2010 through 2011, African-American unemployment peaked to a high of 15.9 percent.

In California, although overall unemployment has dipped to an impressive low of 6.7 percent, among blacks it still soars at a shocking 12.1 percent. According to the Pew Research Center, during the Recession the median wealth of Black households fell 33% in 2010 from $16,600 to $11,000 in 2013. White household wealth increased from $138,600 to $141,900 during that same period.

“Historically, California budgets have been built around forecasts that assume uninterrupted growth,” Brown told lawmakers. “Just looking at the last two reces-

MANNY OTIKO California Black Media

sions, we notice ongoing state spending accelerated right into the downturn.”

Because recessions are an inevitable part of the economic cycle, Brown said it was important to stock the state’s rainy day fund to prepare for lean times.

Board of Equalization Chairman Jerome E. Horton, who is African American, praised Brown’s plans for 2016.

“I applaud Gov. Brown’s prudence in establishing the rainy day fund,” said Horton.

“With nearly 40% of all L.A. County residents living in poverty, an epidemic of homelessness, and a growing economic and educational disparity, I encourage the governor to redirect unused and unproductive tax credits towards stimulating the growth of small and medium-sized businesses that create quality jobs; establishing salary parity for our state workers who preserve, collect, and administer the resources needed to accomplish these objectives.”

While some like Horton say Brown’s argument for economic restraint and measured spending makes for good budgetary policy, others say lean times are already here for many Californians living below the poverty line.

Some Black lawmakers feel the Governor’s proposed budget for 2016 should do more to prioritize problems facing the state’s poor.

"We continue to deny aid to children simply because they are born into welfare; the poorest children, children that need the most financial help,” California Legislative Black Caucus member Sen. Holly Mitchell told California Black Media. “Common sense, scientific data, and the ecocontinued to page 24

On the Money “The Hottest Ticket In Town” Talk about the hottest ticket in town. This year’s Super Bowl is on pace to not only be the most expensive Super Bowl, but the most expensive event ever, so don’t feel bad if you’re not going.

There’s the cost of airline tickets and the hotel rooms, who have doubled and tripled their rates based on demand. But the big bucks go for the tickets.

Oh, the NFL won’t miss you. Super Bowl 50 was sold out before anyone ever knew the Denver Broncos and Carolina Panthers meeting on Feb. 7 in Santa Clara.

At face values, the tickets range from $850 to $1,800 for general admission, up to $3,000 for club seats), but at press, tickets were going for $3,600 to $6,000.

Here’s why: 17.5% go to the participating teams; 34.8% to the remaining teams; 5% to the host city; 25.5% to sponsors and the media. Just 1.5% go to a lottery where fans have the opportunity to buy tickets for $500 each.

Players for the two competing teams—the Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers —have to pony up as well. They get 15 tickets each, however just two of them are free. Additional tickets are purchased at a cost of $1800 each. Any unclaimed tickets go back to their respective teams.

Keep in mind that children do not pay any less than the $1800.

Buying all 15 would set one back $27,000, but most players keep a few and (though it’s against the rules) sell the rest, making on average $3,000-$4000 per ticket.

Biz NewsBriefs Erica Campbell Launches Hair Care Line

Erica Campbell is expanding her brand into a new business enterprise.

The Grammy® Award winning singer has launched a new hairline entitled Erica

By Erica Campbell that offers hair extensions, wigs, closures and clip-ins.

"People are always complimenting me on my hair styles," says Campbell. "So, I decided to create a hair line to share some of the styles and products I've used over the years."

Erica By Erica Campbell is a joint venture with celebrity hair stylist Vernon Martin who has worked with Venus & Serena

Williams, Kerry Washington, model Chrissy Teigen and TV producer Shonda Rhimes.

"We are so thrilled to partner with Erica Campbell on this wonderful hairline," says Martin. "Erica is a role model and a symbol of the sophisticated modern woman so I know that Erica By Erica is going to be eagerly welcomed by women all over the world."

The hair products are available exclusively online at ericabyericacampbell.com.

Noted Male Nail Care Salon Expands Nationally Award-winning Hollywood scribe Michael Elliot—who found new success in male nail care with his groundbreaking salon, Hammer & Nails | Hand & Foot Grooming Shop (featured on Shark Tank)— now plans to expand his men's grooming business. Elliot's company, The Hammer & Nails Salon Group, announced today it is ready to grant franchise licenses in over 40 states for its unique hand and foot grooming shop that was specially created for men.

"The stigma against men getting manicures and pedicures is disappearing and more and more men are realiz-

ing that hand and foot care isn't a question of masculinity but a matter of health, wellness and good grooming.”

BOE Chairman Launches Initiative to Distribute Billions in Refundable Tax Credits State Board of Equalization Chair Jerome Horton will launch his initiative to distribute billions in refundable tax credits, through state and federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), derived from the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, with initial announcements at several local churches, beginning January 31, 2016 through March. Qualifying households could capture up to $6,242 in federal Earned Income Tax Credits (EITC), and up to $2,653 in the new California EITC. “The Earned Income Tax Credit bridges the poverty gap and will give thousands of families access to much-needed income,” said Chairman Horton. “In addition to tax preparation, the VITA events will feature additional family services from low-cost and free medical services, to food and nutrition services and job preparation assistance.”

For other VITA locations near you, call 1-800-906-9887.

can help you start or expand your business with quality services including business trainings, counseling, loan assistance and affordable office space.

L.A. Focus/February 2016

Upcoming Entrepreneurial Training Programs: Level I: Marketing Feasibility 3 weeks (Sat. 9:30am - 11:30am) February 6 - 20, 2016, March 5 -19 & April 2 - 16 Off-Site 8-Week Level II Business Plan Writing Workshops Tuesdays, 6:30pm-9:00pm February 9 Thursdays, 9:30am-12:30pm February 11 Upcoming Events: Strategic Thinking & Execution For Your Business: Identity, Branding, Growth, Risk and More! Thurs. February 11th 6pm-8pm Live Streaming Social Media Workshop, Wednesday, February 17 6pm-8pm www.Facebook.com/VermontSlausonEconomicdev.corporation

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INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Chez’Ney Birth of A Nation was a Sundance hit

Birth of A Nation, a film written, produced and directed by “The Great Debaters” Nate Parker, shinned at Sundance Film Festival. Being compared to great award winning films 12 Years A Slave and Schindler’s List, the film left festival attendees shaken and some in tears galvanizing buyers.

Sony, Universal, TWC, Netflix, Warner Bros, Paramount, Lionsgate and Fox Searchlight battling for the world rights deal. Bids started at $12 million. Although the highest bid was from streaming giant Netflix with a whoping $20 million, Parker chose to close a deal with Fox Searchlight with a record breaking $17.5 million.

In the highly sought after film, Parker stars as slave Nat Turner who leads a slave rebellion in Southhampton Virgina in1831. The film also stars Armie Hammer, Jackie Earle Haley, Gabrielle Union, Penelope Ann Miller, Mark Boone Junior, and Aja Naomi King.

Parker produced with Jason Michael Berman, Aaron L. Gilbert, Preston L. Holmes and Kevin Turen.

Corey Hawkins a Fox Star

His movie “Straight outta Compton” may have been snubbed at the Oscars but Corey Hawkins who played rapper/producer Dr. Dre in the hit film proves his career is taking big strides. Fox’s hit series “24” is returning and Hawkins is set to play Eric Carter "a strong and smart former Army Ranger who finds himself pulled back into action as his past comes looking for him. He eventually turns to CTU for help in saving his life and stopping what potentially could be one of the largest-scale terror attacks on American soil."

“24 Reboot” is all new with Kiefer Sutherland, the original star, as executive producer of the show. Although Sutherland may make a couple appearances many of the original cast will not. “There’s a time jump, a new organization, a completely different story,” Fox co-chairman and

CEO Dana Walden teased last week. “It’s a contemporary story about the potential to activate sleeper cells in the United States. There are nods in the pilot to prior CTU agents, but no ongoing characters.”

Ryan Coogler is directing “Black Panther” When Marvel Comics announced that they had a Black Panther movie in development, that will be starring Chadwick Boseman (Get On Up, 42), the search for the best director was underway. Ava DuVernay(Selma) shut down rumors of taking on the job over the summer telling the Huffington Post, “It wasn’t for me. I loved the character, I love that they called me about it, but ultimately, it wasn’t a good match, so I wish them luck.”

Taking the director’s chair is 29-year-old director and screenwriter Ryan Coogler.

Coogler is best known for passion project-like films such as Creed (2015) and Fruitvale Station (2013). “The talents Ryan showcased in his first two films easily made him our top choice to direct ‘Black Panther.’ Many fans have waited a long time to see Black Panther in his own film, and with Ryan we know we’ve found the perfect director to bring T’Challa’s story to life.” said producer Kevin Feige.

“Black Panther is set to hit theaters February 16, 2018.

Briefly: Slated to bow as a three night event on BET is a biopic on story of New Edition. Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant have signed on to co-produce the film...Congratulations to Tyra Banks. The model and her boyfriend welcomed a baby boy, York Banks Asla, on January 28.

COmINGSOON

Hail Ceaser

God’s Of Egypt

Risen

Triple 9

The film follows a single day in the life of a studio fixer who is presented with plenty of problems to fix.

Feb 5th

The survival of mankind hangs in the balance as an unexpected mortal hero Bek undertakes a thrilling journey to save the world and rescue his true love.

Feb 26th

Biblical story of the Resurrection as seen through the eyes of an unbelieving Clavius and his aide Lucius who are instructed to ensure Jesus’ followers don’t steal his body. Feb 19th

A crew of dirty cops is blackmailed by the Russian mob to execute a virtually impossible heist.

Feb 26th

PASADENA PLAYHOUSE Presents “Fly” In honor of Black History month, The Pasadena Playhouse and Crossroads Theatre Company’s production of Fly dramatizes the historic contributions made by the Tuskegee Airmen to the desegregation of the American military and the furthering of civil rights. The Tuskegee Airmen is a group of African-American military fighter and bomber pilots who fought in World War II flying over the skies of Europe and North Africa during. Forming the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces.

“Fly” tells the story of the first African-American Army Air Corp fighters. Featuring a cast of eight men,including "Tap Griot," a dancer who uses tap dance steps to set a mood that is part sublimated anger, part empowerment, Fly was hailed by The New York Times as “a superior piece of theatrical synergy.” Co-author and director Ricardo Khan is Tony Award-winning co-founder and former artistic director of the Crossroads Theatre Company, known as one of the nation's foremost African-American theater companies. “Fly” runs from January 26 - February 21, 2016 on the Pasadena Playhouse mainstage.

Q&A BrandyNorwood Brandy is back with a new show and new music. It’s been a long four years since the thirty-six year old had a proper solo album.

Being born and raised in Mississippi Brandy dug deep into her southern roots for a down home blues sound on her new single, Begging & Pleading, which she dropped shortly after the premiere of her new BET sitcom Zoe After Ever.

Brandy co-exec produces and stars as Zoe Moon, a newly divorced mother of one embarking on her new career as CEO of a cosmetic line on BET’s new scripted comedy series “Zoe Ever After” .

Q: Which do you like more acting or singing and where do you see your career going?

I love being on stage and interacting with my fans. Singing my songs and hearing them sing my songs back.I love comedy, I love multicams, and I love sitcoms. That’s my world and that’s where I want to be.

I want to discover so many parts of who I am. I love challenges I love trying new things and I want to continue to do that with the intention of service. When I first started it was all about being popular and famous and wanting everybody to know you but now it’s about being of service and being an inspiration to others that are watching.

Why did you decide to do a sitcom?

For me, it’s home for me. I did an episode of [TV Land’s] “The Soul Man” and the energy there just felt so at home and I missed that response and that immediate feeling to do a sitcom like that. I love the one-camera. It looks great, but I wanted to do multi-camera again like [my UPN sitcom] “Moesha.” That’s how it felt. I wanted to feel what that was like again.

To do it with this role, this story line, this particular writer and this producer, it just felt very fresh to me.

Q:The subject matter and the idea of starting your life over is very topical.

That was a part of the reason why I loved “Zoe” so much and I could relate. I’m a single mom and co-parenting is important for me, for my own life. I’m just discovering myself as an artist and so is Zoe as she’s discovering her own cosmetics line. It’s never giving up and stepping out of the shadow of her ex-husband.

He’s a boxer, he’s a champion and everything had to be about him.

She gave up that life and said listen, I need to find myself. You see a grown woman become a grown woman. You see her just clumsy and funny and making mistakes. Zoe is every woman.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 16

Calendar of events

Ongoing

Exhibition: 1940’s African American Film Stills 10AM—5PM • Free CAAM 600 State Drive Exposition Park Contact: (213) 744-7432 www.caamuseum.org On Stage: “Fly” (Through February 21 The story of the first Tuskegee Airmen 8-10pm • $25-147 Pasadena Playhouse 39 South El Molino Ave (626) 356-7529 pasadenaplayhouse.org

Thursday, February 4

22nd Annual Unity Awards Gala Honoring Man of the Year: Russell Simmons 7PM – 9PM • $300 Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel 9500 Wilshire Blvd Information: (323) 751-3440 www.westangelescdc.org The Pan-African American Film & Art Festival (Through Feb. 15) Showcased films include “The Bounce Back” (Starring Shemar Moore); “Where Children Play” (Teyonah Parris, Brian White, Edwina Findley Dickerson, Leon, Macy Gray); “A Girl Like Grace” (Meagan Good, Raven-Symoné, Garcelle Beauvais, Romeo Miller); “Chapter & Verse”(Omari Hardwick, Loretta Devine) and the documentary “Dirt & Deeds in Mississippi” narrated by Danny Glover. Also fea-

tures panels and workshops, and an artfest featuring over 100 established and emerging fine artists and craftspeople.

Times & Prices Vary Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza Contact: (310) 337-4737 www.paff.org Debbie Allen’s Freeze Frame A fusion of dance, music, film and theater featuring original music from Stevie Wonder and James Ingram Starring Debbie Allen, Clinton Derricks and Vivian Nixon (Through Sunday, February 7) Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts Opening night with an Architects of Change panel discussion hosted by Debbie Allen and Maria Shriver Feb 4: $500 • 5:30pm Feb 5-6: $39-117 • 8PM Feb 7: $39-117 • Noon 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd Beverly Hills Tickets: (310) 202-1711 In Concert: Chris Tucker 6:30pm $35-$85 San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino 777 San Manuel Blvd Highland, CA http://www.sanmanuel.com

Friday, February 5

46th Annual NAACP Image Awards Celebrating the outstanding performances of people of color in the arts. (Broadcasting live on TV One) 8pm $150-$500

Pasadena Civic Auditorium 300 E. Green Street Tickets: (323) 938-2790 www.naacpimageawards.net

Saturday, February 6

2016 Black College Expo Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles,CA 9AM-5PM • $8/$7.50 group of 15 or more Prop Making Workshop 1PM—3PM • Free CAAM 600 State Drive Exposition Park RSVP Preferred: (213) 744-2024 www.caamuseum.org Azusa Pacific University presents Gospel Sing 2016 Night of praise featuring top Southern California gospel choirs 6PM (Doors open at 5:30 p.m.)

Free Felix Event Center 701 E. Foothill Blvd Azusa

Contact: (626) 815-6000, Ext. 3720 Forest Lawn Memorial Parks Presents The U.S. Premiere of WORDTHEATRE’S “AND ALL THAT JAZZ” Featuring Keith David, Gary Dourdan, Jason George, Tracie Thoms and Iona Morris 7–9 PM Free Admission and parking Hall of Liberty —Forest Lawn Memorial Park 6300 Forest Lawn Drive Hollywood Hills www.forestlawn.com

Monday, February 8

Center Theater Group Presents “Through The Looking Glass” (Vibrant stories by Montebello and Leimert Park residents united by Poet/Playwright Jerry Quickley) 8PM Kirk Douglas Theatre 9820 Washington Blvd Culver City www.centertheatregroup.org

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Tuesday, February 16 The Spirit of Prophecy Convention 2015 (Thru Thursday) Hosted by Bishop Clarence McClendon • Special Guest: Dr. Emmanuel Ziga and Psalmist Freddie Rodriquez 7:30 pm nightly & 12PM Wednesday & Thursday Full Harvest International Church (“The Place of Grace”) 18355 So. Figueroa Street, Gardena www.bishopmcclendon.com

L.A. Focus/February 2016

Keke Palmers strikes a pose at the People’s Choice Awards.

16

,Donnie ebra Lee D , n so n e ospel’s Taraji P. H Celebration of G it h t Mcklerkin red carpe

hoice Awards aces People’s C Megan Good gr red carpet

David and Tamela Ma nn with De at Celebra bra Lee tion of Go spel

Christina Milian smiles at People’s Choice Awards

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 17

Actor and rap icon LL Cool J honored with star on Hollywood Walk Of Fame January 21, 2016.

Left: Idris Elba takes home two awards at the 2016 SAG Awards

Thursday, February 11

In Concert: Charlie Wilson 6:30pm $50-$70 San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino 777 San Manuel Blvd Highland, CA http://www.sanmanuel.com 100K Los Angeles (Job Fair) Los Angeles Convention Center 1201 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles,CA 9am-4pm

Friday, February 12

94.7 The Wave Love Affair Concert Featuring Bloodstone, The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics, Midnight Star, Freddie Jackson, Peaches & Herb, Debra & Ronnie Laws, The Temprees, The Floaters and Evelyn “Champagne” King Honda Center 6:30PM • $52 2695 E. Katella Anaheim www.hondacenter.com

Saturday, February 13

Luther Vandross) 8PM • $25 – 50 Nate Holden Performing Arts 4718 W. Washington Blvd www.ebonyrep.org/ 5th Annual Spring Into Fashions Runway Show & Luncheon Presented by the Southern California conference of the AME church $35 • $15 for children 12 and under Noon – 3PM Second AME 5500 South Hoover Street Contact: (626) 791-9618

Sunday, February 14

10th Annual Pastoral Appreciation Celebration of Pastor E.V. Hill II (Also Feb. 21, Feb. 28 and March 6) Speakers include Rev. Anthony Moss (Feb 14); Pastor Melvin Wade (Feb 21) and Pastor Miquail Broadus (Feb 28) Annual Musical—March 6 All services at 7PM Mt. Zion MBC 1300 East 50th Street Contact: (323) 235-2103

Narrated by William Allen Young 4pm • $17-62.50 Sanctuary at First Congregational Church 540 S. Commonwealth Ave Tickets: (310) 673-7372 southeastsymphony.com

Saturday, February 20

Lecture: U.S. Presidents Who Owned Slaves (Carter G. Woodson African American History Series) 2PM—4PM • Free CAAM 600 State Drive Exposition Park RSVP: (213) 744-2024 www.caamuseum.org 2nd Annual Parent & Caregiver Conference Featuring expert speakers and workshops for parents and caregivers who have a loved one of any age with mental illnew 8:30am – 2:30pm • $10 St. Anne’s 155 N. Occidental Blvd Contact: (818) 645-4159 www.namilacc.org

8PM • $18 16007 Crenshaw Blvd Torrance Tickets: (310) 329-5345 www.centerforthearts.com

Sunday, February 21

The Original Harlem Globetrotters World Tour 12:30pm • 5:45pm $25-$260 Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa Street www.staplescenter.com

Monday, February 22

Exhibition Opening Reception: “50 Years And I Still Can’t Breathe” (Remembering the 50th Anniversary of the 1965 Watts Rebellion & Now) Artists include Betye Saar, Elliot Pinkney and Noah Purifoy) Professor Ron Wilkins, Speaker 1PM •Free 1727 East 107th Street Contact: (213) 847- 4646

Friday, February 26

Ebony Repertory Theatre Presents Garth Fagan Dance in Fagan’s Tribute To Geoffrey Holder

(Through February 28) 8PM • $25 – 50 Nate Holden Performing Arts Center 4718 W. Washington Blvd www.ebonyrep.org

Saturday, February 27

Lecture: Four Black Governors (Carter G. Woodson African American History Series) 2PM—4PM • Free CAAM Exposition Park 600 State Drive RSVP: (213) 744-2024 www.caamuseum.org Aquarium of the Pacific 12th Annual African American Festival (Through Sunday) Featuring, live entertainment arts and crafts, ethnic food, hip hop/ break dancers, tap dancers, West African dancers, and storytellers.

9am—5pm $17.95-$29.95 100 Aquarium Way Long Beach Info: (562) 590-3100 aquariumofthepacific.org In Concert: TobyMac 7pm $15-$69.50 The Forum

around los angeles

“A Celebration of Love With Terry Steele” (Here & Now The Legacy of

The Southeast Symphony presents An American Legacy

Central Avenue Dance Ensemble Presented by El Camino College Center For The Arts

Sunday, February 28

California State University Super Sunday Speaker from Cal State University system will present brief message to parents and students that college is within their reach academically and financially, and is the key to their future.

11am Worship Service St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor 5017 Compton Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040

Thursday, March 3

Spring Revival (Through Friday, March 4th) Featuring Special Guest: Bishop Joseph Walker III Full Gospel Baptist CHurch Fellowship International Macedonia Baptist Church 1751 E. 114th Street Los Angeles , Ca 90059 (323) 569-9561 www.macedonia-la.org

P Image Awards Cast of Blackish at NAAC Brunch

Tyrese Gibson at NAACP Image Awards Brunch

Power’s Naturi Naughton at NAACP Image Awards Brunch

L.A. Focus/February 2016

Awards NAACP Image Laverne Cox at Bruch

3900 W. Manchester Blvd (310) 330-7300 www.fabulousforum.com

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Re d Carpet Style

TArAji P. HEnSon Accepted her Golden Globe in a white strapless Stella McCartney gown.

Viola DaVis dazzles in a sparkling marchesa gown.

Red Carpet Hits It was a star-studded evening at the 2016 Golden Globes, held January 10th at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

AnGElA BASSETT looks beautiful in this Tangerine Safiyya spring 2016 asymmetric gown.

lAvErnE Cox commemorates her first time at the awards in a bright white Elizabeth Kennedy gown complete with a full train

jEnniifEr loPEz Stuns in a canary yellow Giambattista valli Haute Couture dress and glittering jimmy Choo heels.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 19

L.A. Focus/January 2016

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 20

ChurchNews Dr. E.Wayne Gaddis Installed For A Second Term As President of The California Missionary Baptist Convention

I

n a gala ceremony taking place on January 26 at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel, Dr. E. Wayne Gaddis was installed as president of the California Mis-sionary Baptist State Convention for a second term. The occasion also marked the first time that the California United Baptist and the California Missionary Baptist Convention.

“I’m honored to be re-elected unanimously and I’m honored because history was made by me joining with Rev. J. Roy Morrison in bringing the two conventions together,” said Gaddis, senior pastor of Greater True Light M.B.C. “Back in the mid-eighties, there was a split.

We tried to do it twice before.

“Now that we are together, we will be able to do more in mission and ministry and expand further than what we are able to do now.”

Renowned Bishop Rudolph McKissick was a special guest at the gala that was attended by more than 400.

As the President of the California Missionary Baptist State Convention, Dr. Gaddis has a prolific vision and is committed to preparing a new generation of leaders for the California Missionary Baptist State Convention. It is his desire to build a strong convention and advance the Kingdom of God. Dr. Gaddis has a “Huddle Leadership Approach” and his “Six Pillars” for the CMBSC has been embraced by the full body of the membership.

Amen L.A. (Affirming Ministry Enlightening Nations) 1455 W. 94th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 229-9351 • www.amenla.org Rev. Dr. DiAnn L. Johnson Sunday Morning Worship: 9:30am-10:30am PTP / Preach the word- Teach the word practice the word

Bethel AME Church of Los Angeles 7900 South Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 750-3240 • www.bethelamela.org Rev. Kelvin T. Calloway Early Worship: 7:45 am Morning Worship: 10:45am Mid-week “Hour of Power” (Wed): noon

Bethesda Temple Church Apostolic Faith 1101 W. Florence Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 299-2591 Interim Pastor Robert Lockett Sunday School: 9:40am Morning Worship: 11am Evening Worship: 6pm Bible Study (Wed): 7pm Prayer (Sat): 7am Evening Prayer (Mon.): 6:30pm

Bethlehem Temple Church, INC. 958 East 52nd Street Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 232-8429 • F: (323) 232-8660 Pastor Elder Gentry Richardson, Jr. Sunday: Christian Education: 9am Morning Worship: 11am PYPU (youth services): 4:30pm Evening Worship: 6pm (5pm 5th Sun.) Monday Prayer Revival: 7pm Wednesday Ministerial/Teacher’s Prep. Class: Noon; Bible Class: 7:45pm

Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Rev. Theodore W. Payne, IV Sunday School: 10am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:30 am Bible Study (Tues): Noontime Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 7pm

Pastor Sherman Gordon Marries Over 400 family, friends and church members turned out for the wedding of Pastor Sherman Gordon (Family of Faith Christian Center) to the former LeShan Reena Woods last month. The ceremony—which took place on January 16— was officiated by Bishop Andrew Turner.

“I’m excited”, Gordon said. “It’s a second chance at love. I’m wiser now and it’s good to know you can have love again especially in my profession.”

AME’s First Bishop Honored With U.S. Postal Stamp

L.A. Focus/February 2016

On February 2, the U.S. Postal Service is releasing a commemorative stamp in honor of Richard Allen, the founder and first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The official unveiling of the stamp will take place at the site of the first AME church he founded in 1794, Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church, in Philadelphia.

The move comes after years of a steadfast campaign on the part of leaders in the AME church who collected 40,000 signatures. The unveiling coincides with the 200th anniversary of the denomination.

The stamp commemorating the preacher, activist, and civic leader will be the 39th in the U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage series, which started in 1978 with a stamp honoring Harriet Tubman. In other national AME news, the

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Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 South Vermont, Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 758-3777 • F: (323)565-4231 • www.faithdome.org Rev. Frederick Price Jr. Sunday Service: 10am Bible Study (Tue): 11am & 7pm Tue. Night Kidz Unlocked: 7pm Tue. Night Bible Study (Teens): 7pm Alcohol & Drug Abuse Program (Wed): 7pm Intercessory Prayer (Wed.): 7:30pm Prayer & Praise (Thurs.): 6:30pm First AME Church (FAME) 2270 South Harvard Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 730-7750 • F: (323) 735-7829 • www.famechurch.org Pastor J. Edgar Boyd, Senior Pastor/CEO Sunday School: 10am Worship: 8am, 10am, Noon Youth Church (Fame Renaissance): Noon Wed. Prayer Service: Noon Wed. Bible Study: 7pm Radio: 10:30am on KJLH-102.3FM First AME is the oldest Black Church in the City Grace United Methodist Church 4112 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 294-6653 • F: (323) 294-8753 • graceumc1@earthlink.net Rev. Pastor Paul A. Hill • www.graceumcla.com Early Morning Worship: 7:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7pm Fri. Alcoholic Anonymous: 7pm Tues. Prayer Fellowship: 6:30pm Super Seniors (Thurs/Bi-Monthly): 10:30am Follow us on Facebook Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Dr. Solomon Drake 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

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-7285 • F: (323) 731-2609 • www.holmanumc.com Rev. Kelvin Sauls Sunday School: 8:00, 9:45 & 11am Fuse Worship (Sunday): 6pm Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am Bible Study (Thurs.): Noon Sun. Radio: KJLH 102.3FM: 11am E: Holman@holmanumc.com

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

Liberty Baptist Church 1500 West 51st Place, Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 295-3866 • F: (323) 295-0366 • E: LBCwim@aol.com Rev. Terry Lovell Brown Sr.

Church of Jesus Christ International 3719 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-1106 Pastor Michelle Beal

Miracle Center Apostolic Church 2638 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-5121 or 735-5122 Dr. Roy S. Petitt • Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 8am, 11am & 6pm Tues. Prayer & Bible Class: Noon Rights of Passage: 7pm Wed. Bible Study: 8pm Thurs. Prayer/Bible Class: Noon Fri. Faith Seminar: 8pm Radio KTYM-1460AM: (M-Fri.) 8am - 8:15am

Sunday Morning Glory Service (2nd & 4th): 8:30am-9:30am Christian Education Classes: 9:45am-10:45am Sunday Morning Worship: 11:15am Tuesday Prayer: 7pm Wednesday Bible Class: 7pm 1st Sunday Nights: 7pm Congregational Church of Christian Fellowship 2085 S. Hobart Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 Phone: (323) 731-8869 • F: (323) 731-0851 • www.cccf-ucc.org Pastor James K. McKnight Sun. Early Worship: 8am Prayer Meeting: 10:30am Morning Worship: 11am Wed. Afternoon Bible Study: 1pm Wed. Prayer Meeting: 6pm Wed. Evening Bible Study: 7pm View Pastor McKnight’s Sermons on YouTube

Sunday Church School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:30am & 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: noon & 6:30pm Prayer Meeting: 6pm Follow us on Twitter @dacrossculture www.thecrossculture.org

Mt. Moriah Baptist Church of LA, Inc. 4269 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 Rev. Melvin V. Wade, Sr. Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Mid-Week Worship (Wed): 7pm Bible Study (Wed.): 8pm

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Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles 3669 W. 54th St. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 291-1121

F: (323) 291-1133 • office@sinai.church • www.sinai.church Pastor George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am, 11am Discipleship Hour (Sun): 9:37am Noonday Prayer (Mon): Noon Noonday Bible Study (Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Email: office@sinai.church •www.sinai.church Our Goal: To win more Christians & develop better Christians to the glory of God. (Matt. 28:18-20) Mt. Tabor Missionary Baptist Church 6614 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 753-3189 • F: (323) 753-1018 • www.mttabormbc.org Dr. Ticey M. Brown, D. Min. Pastor/Teacher Early Morning Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid Morning Worship: 11am Tues. Bible Study: 10am & 7pm Meeting/Bible Study: 6:30pm–8pm First Sun. Communion: 11am & 5pm Baptism First Sunday

Paradise Baptist Church 5100 S. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 231-4366 Dr. Aaron Iverson Pastor’s Bible Class & Sunday School: 8am Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Prayer: 7pm Tues. Bible Study: 8pm

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8am & 11am

“You can end your search for a friendly church” 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 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: 8am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm

New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church 402 E. El Segundo Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90061 (310)324-0644 • F: (310) 769-1287 Rev. Sonja Dawson, Senior Pastor • Rev. Lonnie Dawson, Sr., Founder (1962 - 2010) Morning Worship: 7:30am & 10:45am Sunday School: 9:45am Wed. Prayer/Bible Study: Noon Pastor’s Bible Study: 7pm

New Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church 9537 South Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 755-1130 or 755-1139 • F: (323)755-8961 Rev. Melvin Hill, Pastor Worship Services: 8am & 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Prayer Meeting(WED): 6:30pm Bible Study(WED): 7pm

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776 Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Sr. Pastor Sundays: Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Wednesday Bible Study & Mid Week Worship: Noon & 7pm Prayer Meeting: 6:30pm

Pleasant Hill Baptist Church 2009 W. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 293-6448 • F: (323) 293-6605 Dr. Sylvester Washington Sunday School: 8am Morning Worship: 10am Tues. Bible Study: 11am Wed. Evangelism Class: 6:30pm First Sun. Holy Communion Service: 4pm www.pleasanthillbaptistchurch.org Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City” 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-5458 • www.pozlive.com Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7pm Sunday Broadcast: 7pm

Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins Sunday Worship Service: 10am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

The Church where “It pays to be nice”.

New Shady Grove Baptist Church 1509 W. Manchester Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 753-0198 • www.newshadygrove.com Rev. Jewett L. Walker, Jr. Sunday Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Wednesday Bible School: 6pm Men’s Ministry Meetings 2nd Tues: 6pm Youth Mentoring Program 3rd Sat: 10am-11am

Sunday Worship: 9am, 11am & 1pm Wednesday Midweek Service: 8pm www.Channel1Live.tv—View live streaming

St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 3770 Santa Rosalia Dr. Baldwin Hills, CA 90008 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor Morning Worship: 8am Church School Hour: 10:15am Tuesday Hour of Power: 7pm www.thechurchstop.org E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com

Judi Sauls—Holman UMC Ordained an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Judi Wortham-Sauls’ passion in ministry is working with women of color and is frequently invited to present workshops or preach at women’s conferences.

“I love empowering women—that’s my gift and it’s one of my purposes.”

The UCLA graduate loves serving with her husband, who is the proud Senior Pastor of Holman United Methodist Church. She leads the church’s praise and prayer ministry, anything to do with women’s ministry and has foster a mosaic ministry (quilting).

“With the quilting, I teach classes, I do quilt shows, but more importantly I teach women how every part of our lives is interwoven. Sistering is huge for me and that is a piece I’m really working on because I don’t see sistering as it should be.”

As to her role as first lady?

“It’s the hardest role I’ve ever had in that it’s an honor to be the lead woman of not only a congregation but a community and a movement, but it’s very difficult to live in a glass house. I hate that part, but it makes me always rise to the occasion with an intensity to improve—to be a role model to women everywhere. I strive to be a witness to Christians and non-Christians alike by walking with God.”

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 729 S. Park View St. Los Angeles, CA 90057 (213) 738-1077 • jranniew@gmail.com Pastor J. Williams Sunday School: 10am Morning Worship: 11:15am Ministry For Alcohol & Chemical Addiction Wednesday: 5:30pm Bible Study Thursday: 7:30pm Office Hours: Mon 1:30pm-5:30pm; Thurs 2:30pm-7:30pm St. Paul’s Mission Fellowship Church 4816 S. Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90018 Cell: (760) 214-8282 • burtcj@cox.net Rev. Dr. Charles J. Burt, Senior Pastor Morning Worship: 11:30am

“Join us for worship–you will be blessed!”

St. Rest Missionary Baptist Church 709 W. Manchester Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323)752-6179 Rev. Torrey Collins, Pastor Sunday School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:45am Evening Worship: 3:30pm Tues. Bible Study: 7pm Wed. Bible Study: 11am Choir Rehearsals (Wed. & Fri.): 7pm Southern Missionary Baptist Church 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • F: (323) 737-5202 • smbcla@gmail.com Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Sr. Pastor L.I.F.E. Groups Sundays: 8:30am Morning Worship: 10am Baptism & Communism (First Sunday): 5pm Word Wednesday: 6:45pm “One Church For All Generations”

The First Saint John Bible Church 11030 S. Willowbrook Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566-5055 • F: (323) 566-0219 Pastor/Teacher: Bishop Michael A. Brass, Jr. Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 11am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm

L.A. Focus/February 2016

One Church International 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.onechurchla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts

St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Rev. Dr. Lovely Haynes Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Mon. Night Bible Study: 7pm Mon. Tutorial Study: 6:30pm Wednesday Prayer: Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7pm • Wed. Prayer Meeting: 7pm Thurs. Evangelism: 7pm (enrollment required)

first lady files:

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 22

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 Pastor K.W. Tulloss

Tree of Life Missionary Baptist Church 9702 Holmes Ave. Los Angeles CA 90002 Cell: (323) 566-1202 • burtcj@cox.net Rev. Marcus A. Murchinson, Pastor

Sunday School: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 9am Evening Worship: 6pm Tues. Bible Study: 5pm

Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Service: 11am Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm

“We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6 Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr

West Angeles Church of God In Christ 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake

Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org

Sunday School: 8am & 10:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am Evening Worship (North Campus): 7pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7pm Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am www.westa.org

UpLift Christian Fellowship 4745 W. Slauson Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90056 (310) 927-3476 Pastor Anthony Thompson

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

Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm

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

In Carson

Judson Baptist Church 451 E. 223rd St, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 834-2630 • F: (310) 513-0943 • www.judsonbc.net Dr. Johnny V. Baylor, Pastor/Teacher

Sunday Worship Service: 9:30am Children’s Church (Except 5th Sun): 9:30am 2nd & 4th Sun. Speak Life Youth Ministry: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Study: Noon Streaming live at judsonbclive.net

Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy Sunday School: 10am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm

Resurrection Church L.A. 1135 East Janis St. Carson, CA 90746 Office Address: 1143 East Janis St. Carson, 90746 (310) 626-4864 • www.resurrectionchurchla.org Pastor Joseph Carlos Robinson Service times: 8am, 10am, 12:15pm Communion: every 5th Sunday Tuesday Bible Class: 7:30pm

Pastor Profile: Rev. Miquail Broadus • Grace Temple Baptist Church Hometown: Dallas, TX Education: Bishop College Time At Church: 19 years Family: Married 24 years to wife, Lanita; and the father of five, aged 20-27.

You were just 14 when as the eldest of five children you told your Dad, Rev. William T. Broadus, who pastors Calvary Baptist Church in Pacoima, the Lord had called you to preach. What did he tell you?

My dad looked at me and then said go back and pray and I did, but I also would be outside preaching to my friends, siblings and just about anyone who would listen and when no one else would listen, I’d find myself preaching to the grass. Some of them did listen," he stresses. "I would be on the bus or the football field telling them about Jesus and asking, 'are you saved, do you know Jesus Christ?' I would just witness to whomever."

L.A. Focus/February 2016

You once said preaching was as much burden as it was gift….

“When I say burden, I’m talking about an urgency to share the news of Jesus Christ. There’s a life that Christ wants them to live purpose in which He has designed for their life, so it is an urgency. It is not something you can put on the back burner. Also, along with preaching I have a burden not just to lead people but to shepherd people.

22

When did your Dad finally take you seriously?

One Sunday morning when I was 16 my father preached a sermon called "If you don't Somebody Else Will." I took a piece of paper and wrote on it, 'daddy I just have to tell it.' I gave it to the usher and he announced to the church, 'Miquail has something to say.' I faced the congregation and told them the Lord had called me to preach.”

When did you make the decision to pastor?

For eight years, I was preaching every second and fourth Sunday. Then five years prior to my uncle retiring I felt the call to lead. Not just to preach but to guide and be an example. I saw myself being a leader in the community—having a church that was making a difference. Five years later, my uncle retired and turned the

church over to me. He said the lord has led him to appoint me as the next man to lead this church and I’ve been here 19 years of leading.

What did you inherit in Grace Temple?

My uncle laid a great foundation. The people are very knowledgeable in the Word and that makes it a lot easier. I'm just building upon the legacy. But there was still the transition from an older pastor to a younger pastor. The traditions that they used to ….doing things that were out of the box.

What was one of the biggest challenges?

Learning how to lead without taking things personal understanding that I wanted to embrace new ideas with them wanting to hold to their traditions. When you hear or go through certain struggles, you tend to take things personal at the young age of pastoral leadership but now I understand that just because somebody is disagreeing with you that doesn’t mean they are attacking you.

What is your biggest strength?

I’m a people’s person. I love to laugh. I love to share. I believe that’s my biggest strength.

Was there any pressure to be as good as your Dad? Sure, the pressure was people saying, you are going to be like your daddy, you are going to pastor. That’s why my Dad made me wait to make sure it was God and not the people telling me to pastor. I still want to be like him. I’m way far behind. My daddy is one of the best preachers I know, one of the best pastors even in his illness and physical challenges, he still goes to the hospital and visit the sick, he still preaches on Sundays and he is at the church every day.

How has the vision expanded?

What I really would love to do is to captivate this community. With an elementary school across the street, there is no reason this church shouldn't be running over with young people.

Additionally, I want to start after school programs and have a place where kids can come before school as well. I also want a mentor program for boys and girls, but I'm mainly concerned with our boys. There are a lot of gangs in the area. I want the church to be a place where they come instead of hanging out in the street.

The vision is developing a five-star church. You walk inside grace temple you will see that logo everywhere and that’s through excellence, evangelism,

exaltation, edification, and education. That’s my heart and passion. This is the year of creative evangelism for us. We’re taking the word to Laundromats and paying for individuals doing their wash while we share the love of Jesus Christ. Going on the MTA and sharing the love of Jesus Christ, going to Starbucks and paying for individual’s coffee just to say can we share Jesus with them.

Just doing creative things that are out of the box. We still do door to door evangelism but we want to use any means necessary—Facebook, Twitter— to evangelize.

What does a Grace Temple and a Pastor Miquail Broadus have to offer to the people of Los Angeles?

Family restoration,—our church is really family oriented and am not just talking about Broadus family. I’m talking about a family atmosphere. Everybody in Grace Temple is connected somehow. Being able to share with the young boys and the young girls and couples who are going through, how to fix problems through prayer…through the word. We are really offering the basics in being a true family.

Despite the number of churches in this city, people are still lost. We have these clubs and liquor stores and people walking around with no Jesus. I'm looking for is to be a beacon of light in this area and I don't see it as a competition but as partnership because all of us have our work cut out.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 23

From The Pulpit of: Mt. Moriah’s Prayer Bowl

I

feel a special blessing coming to the life of the church. I am convinced that God will unleash a spiritual power that will result in spiritual and abundant living. Those who are willing to do His will receive a special blessing that will bless you down to your socks. This is not something I dreamed about or read in the newspaper. I believe this revelation is inspired by the Holy Spirit.

I am convinced that if you surrender yourselves to God, God will bless you beyond your wildest imagination. And there is no better time to do it rather than right now. I am glad that God has allowed me to go through 2015 and to be ushered into 2016 and I decided that if God has been that good, I ought to give up my contrary walk…my carnal desires, my antispiritual behavior.

After 61 years of being a Christian, I have discovered that success and victory of one’s life are not totally in one’s struggle, but primarily is in your surrender and once you surrender unto God, the devil is in trouble.

I’m under assignment today to say to all of you that we have been assigned the responsibility of making God look good.

Ask yourself the question: Are you making God look good or does your lifestyle make God look bad?

You are a part of an extraordinary assignment. Some of you might have felt a lack of fulfillment last year. You may have felt things went bad for you, but you can’t say you had a bad year because you have to wait until all the years come in. If you Kenneth you had a bad Ulmer year you’ve been feel like Bishop

trying to operate an extraordinary anointing around ordinary people. You’re not frustrated, you’ve simply outgrown the level of what you’ve been operating on, so as we closed [out] last year and come into a new year, you have to realize that you deserve more than life is issuing to you.

There is much more in store for you and your future. This is your time to be blessed. This is your catch-up year.

Many people in the body of Christ are behind schedule. You’re behind personal schedule in your personal life. You’re behind in your professional life. You’re behind in your family life and more importantly, you are behind in your spiritual life. Your prayers ought to be stronger; your worship ought to be stronger; your time in church ought to be all escalated. So God sent me by the prayer bowl, not the cotton bowl, not the sugar bowl, but the prayer bowl to let you know that it is your time to be blessed.

God told Abraham it was his time to be blessed, but Abraham got impatient and God did not talk to Abraham for 13 years.

God came back to Abraham and told him, I'm going to extend my grace to you.

Thank God for amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. Grace woke me up this morning.

Grace will brighten up your day. Grace will make me love my enemies.

Anybody impatient like Abraham?

So the lord said to Abraham, if you want the blessing, there are three things you must do and that applies to all of us.

First there must be a return to holy living.

The Lord appeared to him at 99 years old

In Compton

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church 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) Sunday School: 9am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7pm Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • E: GreaterZionCF@gmail.com Reverend Michael J. Fisher & Dr. W. Jerome Fisher, Pastor Emeritus Sunday Morning Worship: 9am, 11am & 5pm Wed. Bible Studies: Noon-7pm www.greaterzionchurchfamily.com

Holy Chapel Baptist Church 1016 East Rosecrans Ave. Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 Rev. George L. Thomas Early Morning Worship: 7:30am Sunday School: 9:45 & 10:15am Mid Morning Worship: 10:45 am 1st. Sun. Holy Communion: 7:30 & 10:45 am Sat. Broadcast KTYM 1460AM: 10-11pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study: 7pm

Sunday Morning Worship: 8am & 11:30am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:30pm Bible Studies: Wed. 7:30pm & Sat. 9am Food for Your Soul Radio & Television Ministry: KTYM 1460AM: Mon - Fri. 6:30am Church Channel: Tues. 5:30pm & Fri. 2:30pm

and said ‘Walk before me faithfully and be blameless.’ He is not talking about sinless perfection because nobody is perfect but Jesus. He was challenging Abraham to live a sacrificial holy lifestyle.

God is also challenging us that if we want to be blessed that we have to build a new life. Holy living is difficult, but is not impossible. The scripture said be not conformed to the world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

He said Abraham if you want to be blessed you have to live better and if your blessing is coming He wants us to be blameless, to be wholehearted and to conduct ourselves in a manner where people will be attracted to God. If Christ found himself in some of our churches today he would not believe that any of us are Christians. Lying has become a way of life for many church folk.

Premarital sex, extramarital sex are done in a manner of recreation among clergy and not to mention homosexuality, Bruce Jenner deciding that he wants to be a woman and then the magazines decide to put him as woman of the year?

The LA Times called me wanting to know my position on homosexuality, saying you want to be politically correct? I said no, I want to be biblically correct.

How can America expect to be blessed and have foul living not only among the world but among church folk? You can sing God bless America all you want to but my brothers and sisters it is time to bless God who woke us up this morning and started us on our way, put running in our feet, clap

Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III

Unity Christian Fellowship 16133 S. Atlantic Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 604-0234 • F: (310) 886-0198 Bishop Johnny R. Withers, Jr., Senior Pastor Sunday G.I.R. Up Leadership Class: 8am Morning Worship Tuesday: 10am Teaching Empowerment Night: 7:30pm

In Gardena

The City of Refuge 14527 S. San Pedro Street, Gardena, CA 90248 (310) 516-1433 Bishop Noel Jones Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Evening Worship: 6pm Bible Study (Wed): Noon & 7pm BET/Fresh Oil (Wed): 7am

Sunday Morning Worship: 9am Sunday Evening Worship: 6pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7pm

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International 400 E. Kelso, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-4700 • www.bamcm.org Dr. Beverly “BAM” Crawford

In Inglewood

Morning Worship: 9:30am Tues. Bible Study: 7:30pm Wed. Mid-Week Prayer: 5am, Noon & 7pm Wednesday Pathway: 7pm

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

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: 7am & 10am Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm The Tabernacle is located at 321 N. Eucalyptus Ave., Inglewood

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 our hands and healing in our body.

If you want to be blessed, you have to protect the covenant. The covenant is an agreement you make with God and realize who He is, and when you make that agreement it is up to you to help to keep it. The covenant is that foundation of all our hope.

God engages himself to us and then it is our responsibility to engage ourselves to him. Don’t only keep the covenant but you have to have faith enough to believe that you can make the impossible possible.

In Hawthorne

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

Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr. Wed. Mid-Week Service: 7pm Sunday School: 9am Sunday Worship: 10:30am

L.A. Focus/February 2016

Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, P.O. Box 5449, Compton 90220 (310) 604-5900 Fax: (310) 604-5915 Dr. Ron C Hill

“I Feel A Blessing Coming On” Bishop Larry Kirkland

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 24

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

In Irvine

Christ Our Redeemer AME Church 45 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 955-0014 • F:(949) 955-0021 • www.corchurch.org Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, II

Sunday Worship: 8am, 10:30am New Generation Praise Service: 10:30am Sun. Bible Univ.: 9:30am Tues. Interactive Bible Study: 7pm Wed. Pastor's Bible Study: Noon, 7pm Thurs. Bible Study: 7pm Fri. Singles Bible Study (1st Fri): 7pm Antioch Church of Long Beach 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 591-8778 • F: (562) 599-6048 Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr.

In Long Beach

Worship Services: 8am, 9:30am, 11:30am Elements Bible Study: 8am & 10:15am Spanish Worship Service: 3pm Family Night Bible Study (Wed.): 7pm

In Monrovia

Second Baptist Church 925 S. Shamrock Avenue • P.O. Box 479, Monrovia, CA 91017 (626) 358-2136 • F: (626) 303-2477 Bishop W.M. Larue Dillard, Phd. Sunday Worship: 7:45am, 10:45am, 4:45pm Ministry Worship to Children/Youth Sunday: 9:45am - 10:45am Prayer/Academy of Biblical Studies (Wed): 10:45am - 6:45pm www.second-baptistchurch.com

In Pasadena

Bethlehem Church 1550 North Fair Oaks Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91103 (626) 794-5211 • F: (626) 794-6592 Pastor Christopher A. Bourne Sunday School: 9am Sunday Worship: 10am Tuesday Bible Study: 7pm Mid-day Worship Thursday: Noon www.bethlehemcoch.org

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

1152 E. Hyde Park Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90303 (866) 330-1702 • F: (310) 674-0760 Watchman/Shepherd Dr. Robert T. Douglas Sr. Sunday School: 10am Morning Services: 11:45am Evening Service: 7pm Wed. Lock & Load Prayer: 7pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:30pm 3rd Friday Youth Night: 7:30pm KYTYM 1460AM (Sunday): 11:30am www.jacobladderschurch.com Miracle Temple Church of God Pentecostal 733 S. Grevillea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 419-7335 • info@cogpinglewood.org Bishop Johnny J. Young, Ph.D., Senior Pastor Elder Jonathan J. Young, Executive Pastor Sunday School: 8:30am Morning Worship: 10:15am Thursday Praise & Bible Study: Noon & 7pm Weekly Prayer: Noon Monday-Friday Early Morning Phoneline Prayer: 5am Fridays *(209) 255-1000 Access code = 100061# "Where the Difference is worth the Drive" 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 Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 11am First Sunday Evening Worship: 5pm Mid-Week Bible Study Wed.: 7pm Radio: KTYM 1460 AM on Saturdays at 8pm &

Michelle King continued from page 6 woman at the helm of the district since 1929.

She drew parallels to her history-making appointment between herself and Attorney General Loretta Lynch and former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.

Notably, the board’s decision of King to oversee more than 600,000 students elicited widespread praise from city and community leaders.

“Over the course of more than 30 years, [Michelle King] has led reform efforts to increase graduation rates, strengthen academic rigor, and promote restorative justice. Her historical selection will bring the first woman of color to this key leadership role, inspiring thousands of girls throughout our City. I am eager to partner with her in this new role as we work to improve outcomes for all students in Los Angeles,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said.

Though the task ahead won’t be easy King stressed she’s determined LAUSD graduates must compete on a global level.

“I call it a dedicated dance,” she said.

L.A. Focus/February 2016

Clinton continued from page 6

24

What’s more,—like Sanders— she’s going after younger voters who may not be all that familiar with the Clintons and the adulation that won her husband the nickname of America’s first black president.

A memo on “The Importance of the African American Vote,” sent to Clinton allies in South Carolina read, “We are in a strong position to be successful,” while noting that the campaign had already contacted 142,500 voters and held over 1000 organizing events in the state.

Only time will tell if it will be enough. South Carolinians go to the polls on February 27.

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: 7pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm

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: 11am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7pm & 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: Thurs. by appt • On/off Parole, Now What?: Thurs. by appt

Money Matters continued from page 13 nomics of poverty tell us we should help these kids. Yet we deny them the assistance that would allow their parents to support them.”

Although Gov. Brown didn’t mention African Americans specifically, during this part of his address, he expressed concern about income equality and the rapidly disappearing middle class, stating, “we have lost many good-paying jobs because of technological advancement and outsourcing. Middle-class wages have stood still, while CEO pay has skyrocketed.”

“In fact, the proportion of income earned by the 1 percent has almost tripled,” says Brown. “This contrasts sharply with the virtual stagnation in the wages of so many ordinary Americans. CEO pay has risen from 22 times the average worker pay to 352 times.”

According to Brown, many of his policies, such as providing $2 billion in Cal Grants (a state-run student financial aid program) and paying the tuition of 65 percent of community college students, were designed to help working families. The governor also mentioned some of his other successes, such as, increasing the minimum wage, expanding healthcare coverage and ensuring that 6.5 million workers now have sick leave.

Gov. Brown says, some of his major upcoming projects include tackling retirement liabilities, which will total $220 billion, and fixing the state’s crumbling infrastructure.

“I am proposing that we use $2 billion of our temporary surplus on one-time investments to repair and replace aging structures,” says Brown. “Neglecting what we have built over many years and letting it further deteriorate makes no sense and will just pile up costs in the long run.”

Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church 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 Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. 4:13

Spirit of Zion Fellowship Church 10853 Victory Blvd. North Hollywood, CA 91601 (805) 517-1907 • www.mtzionla.org Pastor E.V. Hill II

In Van Nuys

Sunday Worship: 1pm Children's Church: 1pm

In Westchester Arise Christian Center 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C, Westchester, CA 90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Intercessory Prayer Thursday: 11:30pm - 12:30pm

Head 2 Head continued from page 8 tions. Advice to Trump's Republican detractors: If he becomes the guy, make him better on substance.

Urge him to hire the best and the brightest. Imagine a Secretary of State John Bolton. Or a Secretary of Defense David Petraeus. Or a secretary of treasury like the American Enterprise Institute economist Stephen Moore.

Americans pay $2 trillion a year on regulations, according to Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla. Many of these regulations are completely unnecessary but persist because large corporations want them and make contributions to shape and perpetuate them. While regulations cost money, they also create a barrier to entry by new competitors.

Trump could do something about this merry-go-round.

He doesn't need their money to run — and win.

Republicans should make him a better candidate — not change his style, which voters find refreshing, entertaining, even endearing, but change his policy positions. Urge him to take more of a policy-principled, low-tax, light-regulation, free-trade stance. Ronald Reagan evolved from a left-wing Hollywood unionist into, well, Ronald Reagan.

So could Trump.

Larry Elder is a best-selling author and radio talk-show host. To find out more about Larry Elder, or become an "Elderado," visit www.LarryElder.com. Distributed By Creators.Com

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 25

T h r o u g h t he Storm Halle Gerima’s Uphill Journey To Decolonize Film

I

n an industry hostile toward black representation, a documentary about fugitive slaves who raided plantations, freed slaves and formed communities in the Americas as early as the 1600s would by all accounts prove difficult for Hollywood to embrace.

But director and professor of film at Howard University in Washington, D.C. Halie Gerima believes he can make films without having to follow the “formula” dictated by Hollywood. And his latest project, The Maroons, a documentary chronicling the story of Africans, forcibly brought to the US as slaves, but determined not to accept the yoke of human bondage, has sought to reconnect African Americans with the past traditionally overlooked in the film industry.

“This subject matter regarding the Maroons feeds into my own independence,” said Gerima. “These black people took refuge in the rugged mountains and caves.

They fought for freedom without the help of Abraham Lincoln or any other white people endorsing their struggle. “[In fact], they were even neglected by the Underground Railroad where several whites participated in helping blacks escape slavery.

“Anything,” Gerima continued, “that shows whites had a role in liberating blacks like the abolitionists - it becomes a favorite story told and retold. But there were blacks that came from Africa and started guerrilla warfare against slave owners in the 1500s. These are equally important pieces of American history that need to be told.”

Born in Ethiopia in 1946, Gerima came from a large family of ten children, and storytelling was an integral part of his community.

“I am a product of a playwright father and a teacher mother from a small town called Gondar. I grew up under his tutelage and sometimes performed as an extra in his plays. He often wrote plays against Mussolini’s Italian army invading Ethiopia.”

It’s important, Gerima says, that stories about general African folklore told to him as a child around the fireplace not only paint an accurate picture of history, but also bring the story into now.

“When I grew up in Ethiopia watching the cowboy films, the Native Americans always scared me. Every movie I saw they were the savages that killed innocent, well-meaning, hard-working white people. I was on the side of the white people because I’d been brainwashed into thinking whites were the good guys. So I know what movies can do within my own lifetime.”

Gerima, who emigrated to the US in 1967, first trained as an actor at Addis Ababa University and later studied acting and directing at the Goodman Theater in Chicago, Illinois. During his academic years in Chicago, he learned to act in works by Western playwrights but regrettably admits he gained no significant material to advance the black experience in cinema.

“I was gullible because I wanted badly to go to

Minister of Music Organist/Keyboardist For Hire

America and study acting. It was not what I anticipated.

I had to ask myself if [black actors] were born to be extras because that seemed to be the only roles offered them.

In his view, black actors were nothing but “extras of white Romeo and Juliet scripts.” This explained Gerima puts black actors in a position where they come face-toface with white supremacy-racism in American film. It’s so bad that it reaches a point you begin to question yourself whether you’re a human being?”

As an actor, Gerima grew frustrated over his lack of creative control. He realized he had to find a medium that gave him artistic independence.

Gerima later transferred to the Theater Department at UCLA where once again he faced similar racial barriers that he’d dealt with while at Goodman.

“I had the same problem at UCLA because again I was facing the white idea of theater. Basically, this means white people are the world and we blacks simply are extras in their world.”

Despite refusing to accept this inherently flawed concept deeply rooted in white supremacy, Gerima credits enrolling in the UCLA film as somewhat playing a role in shaping his political consciousness and vision of cinema.

It was around this time Gerima immersed himself in books about Pan-Africanism the likes of Black Panther

leader George Jackson and activist Angela Davis.

He recalls one guy on a casting set who had noticed his Angela Davis button on his shirt telling him bluntly, “Listen here! You want to be an actor? “Well…” pointing to the button, “All that militancy stuff won’t feed you.”

Gerima observed how white filmmakers use African American actors “to throw confusion” on what he’d dubbed a “perpetual silent contradiction.” The only time white filmmakers like anything black is when it appeals to their liberal needs he said.

“I was not interested in acting, and I’d made a vow never will I act again. Because it is not consistent with my beliefs.”

He was determined to set his path without “white or even black interest groups driving the engine.”

While at UCLA, Gerima helped spearhead an entire movement that eschewed conventional narrative film for a universal view of the craft. It was called the L.A. Rebellion.

“We all felt that we had nothing in common with this Eurocentric paradigm of representation or theater or movies,” he said. “And so we were opting to look at Latin American films, African films, Iranian films, trying to find our own identity and empower the very stories we set out to want to tell.”

Once he completed the Master’s Program in Film at UCLA, Gerima was ready to leave Los Angeles, but more importantly, he wanted no part of the Hollywood industry.

“I didn’t want to stay in Hollywood. In fact, at this point, I didn’t care too much about anything to do with Hollywood. I was not born to accept the terms that limit black actors to stereotypical roles.”

In 1982, Gerima founded Mypheduh Films Distribution Company. He’s mostly known for his awardnominated film Sankofa. He continues to distribute and promote his own films, including his most recent festival success, Teza (2008), which won the Jury and Best Screenplay awards at the Venice Film Festival.

Although it’s been an uphill battle for Gerima,—who is just a few months short of being 70-years-old, the veteran filmmaker still has plenty of gas left in his tank to do more.

“I’m actually making a documentary on the Ethiopians Italian war. It’s taking me 20 years to do this film.

“It’s my father’s injection into my psyche that influences me to embark on such projects.”

He reminds his students at Howard that the Second World War didn’t begin when Hitler went to Austria or Poland. But rather it started when the Italians poisoned millions of Ethiopians when they invaded his native home.

Said Gerima, “Ethiopians died like Jews in Nazi, Germany.

“And I’m living to make sure that I tell the untold history of all black people.”

Local, Dynamic Church is seeking a Highly Skilled, Professional, Church Secretary

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 26

Church News continued from page 20 Emanuel AME church in Charleston, South Carolina—the site where Pastor Clementa Pinckney and eight church members were gunned down during a Bible study by an avowed white racist last summer—has named a woman, Rev. Betty Clark, as their new pastor. It is the first time in the church’s 198-year history that a woman was called to lead.

Three Pastors To Be Honored At NAACP Image Awards Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III and Rev. Dr. HowardJohn Wesley will receive the prestigious Chairman’s Award—presented to those who have used their distinct platforms to be agents of change—during the 47th NAACP Image Awards.

“It is a rare privilege for me to present the NAACP Chairman’s 2016 Award to an outstanding group of trailblazing leaders all under the age of 50 who have given voice and vision to the mantra that black lives matter,” stated Roslyn M. Brock, Chairman of the NAACP National Board of Directors.

Rev. Dr. Jamal Harrison Bryant (Empowerment Temple AME, Baltimore) was cited for his on the ground social jus-

Dr. Howard-John Wesley

tice commentary and leadership were exhibited during the uprisings in Baltimore in the aftermath of the death of Freddie Gray, and Trayvon Martin.

As part of his community engagement, Rev. Dr. Otis Moss III, Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Ill., led the team that came up with the “My Life Matters” curriculum; which includes the viral video “Get Home Safely: 10 Rules of Survival,” created in the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death at the hands of Ferguson, Missouri police.

He recently addressed the Congressional Black Caucus during its annual legislative conference prayer breakfast on “Accept Your Desert Assignment,” where he provided a religious framework for the Black Lives Matter movement.

Rev. Dr. Howard-John Wesley, dynamic pastor of the historic Alfred Street Baptist Church in Alexandria, led community protest marches against the New York grand jury’s decision not to indict in the death of Eric Garner. His sermon, “When the Verdict Hurts,” was acknowledged in Time magazine’s July 29, 2013 cover story, “After Trayvon” as one of the best sermons preached in the United States following the “not guilty” verdict in State of Florida v. George Zimmerman.

Dr. Otis Moss III

Dr. Jamal Bryant

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 27

InGoodTaste Ta m e la & D a v id Mann ared since they the two have sh s, de ca de o ver the last tw t married.

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crowave andkeep slightly in oven or mi as till tor ur flo rm Wa grees onions & sauté until Preheat oven 350 de p. vegetableoil, add tbs 1 th wi d, t lle ski ch -in season.. Once heate warm*. Preheat 12 cken into skillet, and chi d pe ed op ten dch sof ad nt, the d they are transluce n and stir well. Ad and cream of chicke 2 tablespoons th wi a till tor add green chili sauce ur flo d in. Spoon eachwarm of mozcream cheese, & fol add a small amount in a centerline, and surt fla a on as till (or more) of filling Roll the filled tor . ing fill of top on th zarella cheese dish & top wi oven safe casserole face and place in an and bake top on remaining cheese remaining filling. Add ly. bb bu d an d lte cheese is me for 20 minutes until ns. llio sca ed slic Top with

"NOTHING HAPPENS UNTIL SOMETHING IS SPOKEN" DR. JYNONA NORWOOD TEACHES, PREACHES AND PROPHESY’S IN EVERY SERVICE! SHE SOWS NEW TESTAMENT FAITH GIFTS & FRESH OIL FOR USE IN YOUR HOME! Join the Prophet every Sunday 11:45AM • 6:45 PM & Thursday at 7:45 PM Faith In Action Miracle Center, 645 W. Arbor Vitae Street, Inglewood, Ca 90301 Home of the Official "Prophetic Calendar" ~Prophetic Calendar Services are every 1st Sunday.

Listen to the Woman of God every Sunday on the Faith In Action broadcast @ 12 NOON to 12:30PM on KALI 900 on the AM dial and the Internet. www.kali900am.com

Meet Dr. Norwood at their Annual Prophetic Complimentary Love Feast Banquet, February 14 @ 7:30PM w/chocolate.

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Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 28

Eye On Gospel Anthony Brown Tops Stellar Award Nominations What a year it’s been for Tyscot recording artist Anthony Brown, who — with his Group Therapy—not only scored his first Grammy nomination for their smash single, “Worth”, but topped the list of nominees for the 31st Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards with ten nominations, including Artist of the Year, Song of the Year, Group/Duo of the Year, CD of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year.

“I am honored and extremely humbled to be nominated,” said Brown, whose CD topped the Billboard gospel charts. The lead single, “Worth” spent 17 weeks at number one on the gospel radio charts.

Erica Campbell and Charles Jenkins tied with eight nominations each.

Jenkins is nominated for Producer of the Year and Traditional Male Vocalist of the Year, and his critically acclaimed group is competing for Song of the Year, CD of the Year, Choir of the Year, Traditional CD of the Year, Music Video of the Year and Traditional Choir of the Year.

Campbell will square off against Tasha Cobbs (who snagged six nominations) in five of the categories including Artist of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, CD of the Year, Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year and Contemporary CD of the Year.

Other multiple nominees include Richard Smallwood (5), Israel & New Breed (4), Jonathan McReynolds (4), Tina Campbell (3), The Rance Allen Group (3), newcomer Casey J (3) and Dorinda Clark Cole (3).

Rickey Smiley and actress/TV personality Sherri will host the two hourlong show hailed as the “biggest night in gospel music,” from the Las Vegas Orleans Arena on Saturday, February 20, 2016. The telecast will premiere on TV One during the week of March 6, as well as in broadcast syndication on 150 stations in over 125 markets around the country from March 12 - April 10.

The show will be punctuated by performances from Kirk Franklin, Anthony Brown & Group therAPy, Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago, Tasha Cobbs, Travis Greene and Best New Artist nominee Casey J. “I am pleased that God has blessed us with celebrating 31 years as the most respected awards brand in gospel music and in the faith-based community,” says Don Jackson, founder and executive producer of the S t e l l a r Awards.

“We will h o n o r those who have contributed to the growth a n d success o f gospel music as a genre, as well as demonstrate why this art Anthony Brown

form remains critical to the legacy of American music.”

In addition to celebrating the year’s best album releases, awards will be presented for the best gospel radio stations for urban audiences nationwide.

Terrestrial and online radio programs that broadcast gospel music will be highlighted, along with the top Gospel Announcer of the Year. Nominees for Announcer of the Year are Carmina Barnett from KHVN/Dallas, Tracy Bethea Bodie from WHAL/Memphis, Lee Michaels from WCAO/Baltimore, and Billy St. James from KPZK/Little Rock.

Special honors will be given to Yolanda Adams and comedian Jonathan Slocumb. The Ambassador Bobby Jones Legends Award will be presented to Joe Ligon (Mighty Clouds of Joy).

And The Most Performed Gospel Song of The Year Is… Last month at the prestigious BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Awards #WAR by Pastor Charles Jenkins & Fellowship Chicago was recognized as one of the Ten Most Performed Gospel Songs of 2015 at the 17th annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors ceremony that took place January 16th at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

However, top honors went to singer/songwriter TIFF JOY’s composition “Amazing” (as recorded by Ricky Dillard & New G) as the Most Performed Gospel Song of 2015 at the 17th annual BMI Trailblazers of Gospel Music Honors program that took place January 16th at the Rialto Center for the Arts.

The Grammy ® Award nominated song spent an incredible thirty weeks at #1 on Billboard Magazine’s Gospel Airplay chart and has amassed over 84,000 broadcast detections with TIFF JOY’s explosive vocals defining Ricky Dillard & New G’s rendition of the tune.

The Chicago native has also done a mellower version of the song on her Top 5 bestselling debut album “TIFF JOY” (Walkway/Tyscot) that was also released in 2015 and features her current radio hit, “The Promise.”

Virtue Scores With Walk It Out Urban Gospel Sister trio Virtue's (Karima Kibble, Heather Martin, and Ebony Holland) pulsating workout anthem "Walk It Out" (produced by Alvin Garrett and David and Gerald Langford of Tag Team Entertainment) from their forthcoming 7th studio album FEARLESS (Mixed Bag Entertainment) hits Top 30 on the Mediabase Gospel Airplay chart this week landing at #29. A second s i n g l e "Miracle" ( m a d e famous by The Clark Sisters) is b e i n g prepped for release to Gospel radio this month.

Focus 2.16 Q_Focus 7-04 2/3/16 3:22 PM Page 29

SavingGrace Christina Elmore

C

hristina Elmore knew that acting was the career path she’d follow when as a teen she found that it was the only thing she didn’t quit.

“I took ballet. I took violin lessons. I played softball and eventually it was like I’m done with all of these,” she recalls, “but acting was the one thing I just couldn’t imagine quitting.”

What’s more, Elmore was prepared to put in her time, having met actors who worked in regional theater and weren’t rich or famous, but had made a life out of their craft.

With that in mind, she attended Harvard University where she earned a degree in African American studies while doing a lot of theatre, and followed up with an intensive three-year study of acting training at the American Conservatory Theatre. When it was over, she packed her bags, moved to L.A., secured a manager and started the routine grind of auditioning.

Being new to Los Angeles and with just a small role in Fruitvale Station to show for her training, Elmore’s biggest goal was to meet and make impressions on casting directors. TNT’s hit series, “The Last Ship”, was one such audition—a chance to connect with a casting director with little expectation of actually booking the role.

“My managers were like ‘Go to the audition because the casting director is great and we want you to know her, but you’re not going to get the role, because you haven’t guest starred or co-starred or any of that, so just do well so that she’ll bring you up on other things.

“But,” says Elmore, “God had other plans and thankfully I booked it. We’re now in the process of shooting our third season.”

Starring Eric Dane, “The Last Ship” is based on a fictional global pandemic that nearly wipes out most the world’s population, setting the crew aboard a USS destroyer Nathan James—who are among those left —on a crusade to find other survivors and a cure.

The post-apocalyptic Navy action series —scheduled to return in summer 2016 —was one of cable TV top rated scripted series. In it, Elmore plays Lt. Alisha Granderson and while she credits landing the role to two things she couldn't plan for —timing and God’s favor —the show producers were also looking for new faces.

“We have our big names, but it’s a show about the Navy,” observes Elmore, “and the Navy is filled with young, scrappy people and they took chances on a lot of young actors who were unknown which was another blessing.”

Thanks to the show’s success, Elmore has Hollywood’s attention and is amassing an impressive body of work. Last summer, in addition to theatre work, Elmore landed a co-starring role in a film, titled “Black Car”, playing a detective who’s investigating a case of assault against a woman by her Uber driver.

And while Elmore is one of Hollywood’s new faces,

she appreciates the anonymity that comes with playing a Navy crew person.

“In real life, I don’t look much like I do on the show. On the show I wear a wig, my hair is pulled back and I have on a Navy uniform.”

It is a huge contrast for Elmore who in real life is a girly girl.

“I like dressing up, putting on makeup but on this show, they’re like ‘oh, I see mascara, tell her to go wash her face. Or it’s too much blush. We can’t have any makeup. Nothing. Like I don’t even wear foundation on the show.

“Alisha is just not fabulous like that. She’s great. She’s strong. She’s smart and I am grateful be playing her and representing women in the Navy. But as much as I love being glamorous, I love being true to the role and the show even more.

Alisha doesn't have time for hair and make up because she's too busy trying to save the world and I think that's amazing! I'm honored to tell this story and to play a woman who fights for what she believes in despite adversity.

“It means that everyday I get to focus on the work. I’m not thinking about how my hair looks.”

Elmore’s passion, focus and determination come naturally. Her Dad—a noted relationship therapist, speaker, author of the national best-seller How to Love a Black Man, and its sequel, How to Love a Black Woman; and former pastor of the Sacramento-based Center of Praise Ministries and former interim pastor at the Los Angeles-based New Dawn Christian Village—dabbled in the arts in his youth. Her mother, Aladrian Elmore, is a singer and an associate pastor (over Worship & Fine Arts) at Center of Praise Ministries.

“My parents are my biggest supporters,” Elmore states. “I was really blessed in that they never one day said, what’s your back up plan or plan B. They’re like you’ll be independently doing it and we’ll be praying for you.”

Not surprisingly, faith plays a key role in all she does and while most would believe that playing a lesbian might challenge her Christian values, it is not the case.

“For me, it wasn’t a conflict,” says Elmore, who met her husband, a footwear designer, while studying at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco. “Whether we believe that’s right or wrong, any character I play—be it a Christian movie or secular TV show—would be a sinner. We’re all sinners. So if you believe that homosexuality is a sin, than that’s her sin struggle.”

Elmore’s own saving grace is her relationship with her Lord and Savior.

“That’s the foundation of who I am. It’s about waking up everyday in my daily walk. I’ve been so blessed by Him that He’s given me a family who is so supportive not only of my career, but of me as a person. I know a lot of people who do this kind of work and are easily depressed by the rejection. Even if you are working, it’s the kind of thing where every day you pretend to be someone else and you can lose track of who you are. I’ve never had those issues and I’m hopeful I won’t because of my foundation in Christ and support of family. That’s my saving grace.”

L.A. Focus/February 2016

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C

Finding Your Pretty with Chez

hange your loofah every thirty days, change your toothbrush every ninety days, change your weave every ninety days and change your mascara every four months. We must change these things often to avoid health issues, so I often find my self at my local drugstore wondering up and down the cosmetic isle until something catches my eye. Then I stand there staring at all the Cover Girl mascaras dangling from silver hooks and neatly stacked Maybelline lipsticks and then the age old question arises. Is drugstore makeup as good as department store?

Does it really matter? Should I get this $1.99 Wet N’ Wild eye shadow or should I just buy my new loofah and toothbrush then head to the mall for my make up? Or should I get my loofah at the mall too because Bath and Body works has great loofahs? I just stand there for minutes staring at Queen Latifah’s face above her Cover Girl Queen Collection contemplating and wishing I could rip open the packages and try it all out on my face. Maybe that will help me make a decision. And this happens every time I take a trip

to the drugstore.

Now, The answer to Cheap vs. Expensive makeup is not as black and white as we would like to think. I wish I could just say “Buy cheap!It works just as good.” but the truth of the matter is… sometimes. Sometimes cheaper is better and sometimes expensive is better. It all depends. Besides the obvious plus to shopping at a department store like being able to try on that lipstick, taking home a sample of that foundation you’ve heard so much about, and being able to ask a professional makeup artist their advice on both. The more expensive makeup generally have a lower water content. They also have all around better ingredients which allow the product to apply smoother, crease or crack less, and be less irritating to the skin. But high end cosmetic brands like Chanel, Givenchy or MAC are not only selling you makeup but they are selling you a lifestyle. So, I say if you have a couple extra pretty bucks buy expensive, if not buy cheap. It won’t kill ya!

Five frugal alternatives to your fancy cosmetics:

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So Who Does Your Hair...

Aja Chaffe ‘s parents owned a salon, which made her originally run from the idea of doing hair and head down another creative path. “I went in to architecture and surprisingly the basic fundamentals and principles in architecture really intrigued my interests again. I also really missed my client interaction and that’s what made me go back.

That was twenty years ago and today you may have to wait a week to get into Aja’s chair because she is one of L.A.’s top stylists and she loves what she does. “I have the power to change people

and change someone’s day. Hair is like moving art. I’m addicted to the feeling I get when clients look at themselves and they love what they see.”

Aja starts any service with a consultation . ”I look at the hair from the state that it’s in and I create a time frame of reevaluations so we can track how its going so that they get to their personalized hair goal.”

And that’s exactly what she did for Daria Tamas a client of Aja’s for two years. “From the very first time that I went to Aja, I noticed a positive change in my hair and scalp. Aja took time to inspect my hair, make an assessment of the condition and she discussed short-term

Showcase your hairstyle, salon, L.A. Focus/February 2016

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and long term realistic goals for what I wanted. Aja customizes the products for each client and she gives excellent advice for maintenance. She taught me how to care for my hair in between salon visits.

Over the course of the past two (2) years, my hair grew longer and became stronger.

My scalp is no longer dry and my hair is no longer dull.I started getting compliments on my hair.

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