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Sheila E:

Annual Long Beach Gospel Festival Kicks Off July 19 PAGE

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• A New Book • A New CD • A Nightclub • Headlining the Biggest Concert of the Summer Misty Copeland Is First Black ABT Principal Ballerina PAGE

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SEE PAGE

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CHARLESTON

MASSACRE:

A WAKE-UP CALL FOR CHURCHES Dylann Roof had hoped to start a race war when he walked >> into Charleston, South Carolina’s Emanuel AME Church and after

Isadore Hall Stakes Out 44th Congressional Seat

being welcomed by the pastor and sitting for more than an hour...

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contents

July 2015

L.A. Focus Publication

(Left): Shanice Wilson, Flex Alexander, Judge Mablean & Omarosa attend the Annual Honoring Unsung Fathers Awards & Scholarship Brunch, the Mablean Ephriam Foundation; (Middle): President Barack Obama delivers the eulogy at Rev. Clementa Pinckney's funeral at College of Charleston's TD Arena; (Right): David Johns, Executive Director of the White House Intiative, Nikki Gilliam, teacher at Audubon Middle School, Dr. George McKenna & Jose Avila, Assistant Principal at Audubon Middle School

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Commentary From The Editor Lisa Collins

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Upfront

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Head To Head

Jada Pinkett-Smith

16 ICalendar/Around LA Red Carpet Style 18

How Smartphones May Influence Police Reform; Isadore Hall Political Ambitions and Making a Difference

BET Awards

On Rachel Dolezal’s Double Life

Headlines From Africa Massacre In Charleston: A Wake Up Call For Churches

Entrepreneur’s Queens Of Africa Dolls Outselling Barbie In Nigeria

Norma Fisher

Through The Storm An Innocent Man’s 17-Year Journey from Prison to Exoneration

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Asst. Editor Articles Editor Staff Writers Contributors

Photographers Advertising

Lisa Collins Tatiana Rivera Emma Gannon Stephen Oduntan Larry Elder Bill Jones, Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

19 20 Church News First Lady Files 21

McDaniels Leaves Faithful Central; Planting New Church In Fullerton

12 Money Matters staff

Eye On Gospel

From The Pulpit

23 26 In Good Taste 29 Finding Your Pretty Saving Grace 30 of West Angeles Church

Bonnie Tann

With Chez’Ney

Sheila E

Tamela Mann Makes Radio History

10 Feature Story 14

14 Inside Hollywood One On One

“The Danger With Making The Confederate Flag and Dylann Roof The Face of Racism”

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West Angeles is pulling out all the stops to plan a very special birthday party for Bishop Charles Blake.

Happy birthday, Bishop

Pastor Profile Marcus Murchinson

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Marc T. Little

Siebert, Brandford, Shank & Co.

On The Cover:

Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church Law Offices of Marc T. Little

Cover Design: Tatiana Rivera

honorary advisors Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Paradise Baptist Church Dr. Aaron D. Iverson 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 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 315C 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

David A. Love Guest Columnist

The Danger With Making The Confederate Flag and Dylann Roof The Face of Racism

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he Confederate flag and Dylann Storm Roof are perhaps the most potent and virulent symbols of racial hatred these days, and understandably so. When Roof committed mass murder by gunning down nine black parishioners at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina on June 17, he did so in the spirit of the Confederacy he seems to love so much.

However, as much as we are paying attention to this madman and a Rebel flag which defended slavery, segregation and lynching–and we should–let us not lose sight of the bigger picture. These are merely extreme symbols of racism. Ultimately we must focus on systemic racism, the pervasive forms of racial oppression that plague our economy, the education system, law enforcement and the judicial system.

And if we ignore this painful reality, then we are merely opting for symbolism rather than real change.

Roof, who is the subject of a federal hate crime investigation, is a domestic terrorist whose purported racist manifesto reveals much about the killer’s pro-apartheid, neo-Confederate and neo-Nazi sentiments. And while he was apparently acting alone, he really was not alone. South Carolina is home to at least 19 hate groups according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, including two Ku Klux Klan chapters, four white nationalist groups including the Council of Conservative Citizens (CCC), and six neo-Confederate organizations such as the League of the South. Roof was reportedly radicalized by the CCC, a reincarnation of the Whites Citizens Councils of the 1950s and 1960s that is now associated with Republican politicians.

Dylann Roof may have been radicalized, but a major political party in this country has been radicalized as well. Once the party of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the GOP has become the new segregationist Dixiecrats for the twenty-first century. As Fox News and rightwing talk radio fan the flames of racial hatred, Republican politicians enact laws making it more difficult for black people to vote, and easier for white supremacists to amass the firearms they need to kill black people, and acquit them when they kill black people. With the conservative movement directing their hatred towards people of color, pulling the levers of power, and encouraging an armed insurrection against a black president through “Second Amendment” remedies, it is no wonder that the Dylan Roofs of the nation dare to start a race war as they do.

Blaming a lone gunman or a Civil War flag for racism only clears society of wrongdoing. While many whites believe they are not racists because they don’t use racial epithets or gun down a black church, racism is not merely the acts of a handful of people who hate black folks. Institutional racism is a system of white skin privilege and white supremacy that benefits preferred members through specific policies, and rigs the game against outsiders.

Unjust laws determine that the public schools in black and Latino communities

State workers take down a Confederate national flag on the grounds of the state Capitol on June 24 in Montgomery, Ala. (Martin Swant, AP) should be underfunded and fail those children, or that banks will deny loans on the black side of town. With racist policies and practices, the police stop and search and arrest men of color, and the prosecutors and judges send these black and brown bodies to prison. And while some would forgive Roof for his crimes, who do we forgive for the subprime mortgage crisis which preyed upon black homeowners and resulted in the largest loss of black wealth in history? Who would we forgive for sending a black man to solitary confinement for forty years in a former slave plantation–if we chose to forgive–and who should accept responsibility? Who do we punish for high black unemployment, for black women earning 64 cents for every dollar a white man earns?

And who pays for the cradle to prison pipeline, or a war on drugs that has amounted to a war on black America?

Let’s all hope the flag gets removed forever and that Roof receives full and swift justice for violently ending nine beautiful lives. However, it will be at our nations peril if we confuse these two symptoms for our nations true disease — the cancer of systemic racism.

As the Reverend Dr. William Barber of the North Carolina NAACP eloquently said, “The perpetrator was caught in Shelby, but the killer is still at large.”

Follow David A. Love on Twitter at @davidalove.

From the Editor “He Didn’t Know He Was Being Used By God”

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Reverend Pinckney and that Bible study group -- the light of love that shone as they opened the church doors and invited a stranger to join in their prayer circle. The alleged killer could have never anticipated the way the families of the fallen would respond when they saw him in court -- in the midst of unspeakable grief, with words of forgiveness. He couldn’t imagine that.

“As a nation, out of this terrible tragedy, God has visited grace upon us, for he has allowed us to see where we’ve been blind. He has given us the chance, where we’ve been lost, to find our best selves. We may not have earned it, this grace, with our rancor and complacency, and short-sightedness and fear of each other -- but we got it all the same. He gave it to us anyway. He’s once more given us grace. But it is up to us now to make the most of it, to receive it with gratitude, and to prove ourselves worthy of this gift.

“But I don't think God wants us to stop there. For too long, we’ve been blind to the way past injustices continue to shape the present. Perhaps this tragedy causes us to ask some tough questions about how we can permit so many of our children to languish in poverty, or attend dilapidated schools, or grow up without prospects for a job or for a career.

Perhaps it causes us to examine what we’re doing to cause some of our children to hate. Perhaps it softens hearts towards those lost young men, tens and tens of thousands caught up in the criminal justice system -- and leads us to make sure that that system is not infected with bias; that we embrace changes in how we train and equip our police so that the bonds of trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve make us all safer and more secure.

“By recognizing our common humanity by treating every child as important, regardless of the color of their skin or the station into which they were born, and to do what’s necessary to make opportunity real for every American -- by doing that, we express God’s grace.”

In doing as the president suggests, the deaths of nine Bible believing Christians now dubbed “The Emmanuel 9”— Rev. Clementa Pinckney, Tywanza Sanders, Ethel Lance, Cynthia Hurd, Rev. Sharonda Singleton, Myra Thompson, Susie Jackson, Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor and Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr. —won’t have been in vain.

Keep the faith.

L.A. Focus/July 2015

simple post tweeted out after the massacre of nine people at a Charleston, South Carolina church last month reveals the frustration many felt after the breaking news left the nation stunned.

There’s an old Bible saying derived from Genesis 50:20 that goes, what the Devil intended for evil, God turned to good. The New King James version text reads: “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”

And while the senseless and unspeakable act of violence in Mother Emmanuel AME Church, the stories of the Emmanuel nine didn’t end there in that bloodied church basement, but were resurrected in the huge outpouring of love, forgiveness and healing that has followed in the city of Charleston and across the nations; as well as a movement to remove symbolism tied to the thinking that inspired the massacre.

In a show of solidarity, 15,000 people in Charleston—black and white—joined hands to create a unity chain in a line that stretched over two miles and the latest survey showed that at least 33 of South Carolina’s state senators and 83 House members say the flag should go, which would equal the two-thirds majority needed from both chambers to remove the battle flag from the statehouse grounds.

Dylann Roof couldn’t have known the explosive outpouring of love his evil acts would inspire. He couldn’t have known how the actions he took at a Wednesday night Bible study would backfire on those who—like him—revered a confederate flag that stands as testament to the ravages of slavery.

He couldn’t have known that his actions would inspire churches around the nation to be more vigilant.

He couldn’t have known as expressed in the eulogy of President Barack Obama at the funeral of Rev. Clementa Pinckney while citing the mysterious ways in which God works, that “he was being used by God.” In what was one of his best speeches on record, Obama went on to say: “It was an act that drew on a long history of bombs and arson and shots fired at churches, not random, but as a means of control, a way to terrorize and oppress. An act that he imagined would incite fear and recrimination; violence and suspicion. An act that he presumed would deepen divisions that trace back to our nation’s original sin.

“Blinded by hatred, the alleged killer could not see the grace surrounding

LISA COLLINS Publisher

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Expanding Medi-Cal Now Covers Long Term Illnesses and Qualifying Adults MANNY OTIKO California Black Media

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n 1998, San Pedro resident Alaina Howard was diagnosed with Takayasu's arteritis, a disease that narrows and obstructs the arteries. Her doctors gave her two years to live. Faced with the difficulty of accepting her diagnosis, Howard also had to deal with frequent fainting spells, caused by the limited flow of blood to her brain.

Seventeen years later, Howard has beaten the odds and is still alive, but she had to go on disability.

Unable to work, Howard -- a Pennsylvania resident at the time -- was forced to apply for public aid.

During that process, she learned her status also qualified her for health insurance through Medicaid. In 2007, she moved from Pennsylvania to California and enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s health insurance program for low-income individuals or families.

Howard says Medi-Cal has been invaluable for maintaining her health, even though she faced a few challenges along the way -- like the long lines at her county human services agency. She says the wait was well worth it, though, when she is faced with huge medical bills from frequent hospital visits. Not being on the hook with collection agencies for bills she cannot afford for services she needs to control her chronic illness, is the best part of the coverage, says Howard. And even though she still has to pay some out-of-pocket medical expenses for her two children, she can’t imagine what her life would be like without her Medi-Cal coverage.

In addition to providing health care for people with chronic illnesses like Howard, Medi-Cal offers a variety of preventive health care programs, according to Adam Weintraub, a spokesman for the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS.) The state’s government-funded health coverage program, which has historically focused on services to children and families, has now expanded to include single men and women without children and disabilities who qualify based on their annual income. To be eligible, an individual would have to earn less than $16,105 every year or $32,913 for a family of four.

“Medi-Cal provides Californians with access to affordable, high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use disorder treatment services, and long-term care,” Weintraub said. “Among the programs administered by DHCS are: California Children’s Services; Child Health and Disability Prevention program; the Genetically Handicapped Persons Program; the Newborn Hearing Screening Program; the Family Planning, Access, Care, and Treatment Program (PACT); Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); Every Woman Counts; and Coordinated Care Management.

DHCS also administers programs for underserved Californians, including farm workers and American Indian communities.”

California is also working to expand the number of people with access to health care through Covered California, a marketplace where individuals whose incomes exceed the threshold to qualify for Medi-Cal can access private health insurance, potentially with financial assistance. Covered California is part of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act commonly called “Obamacare” and is a partner with the California Department of Health Care Services, together providing affordable, quality health coverage options to Californians.

On the Covered California website, Weintraub says, individuals can find out if they qualify for low-cost, private health insurance or Medi-Cal.

“New enrollment for 2015 coverage is strong and has brought in consumers our marketing and outreach targeted,” said Covered California Executive Director Peter V. Lee. “It is clear Latinos, African Americans and young adults not only heard, but acted on increased advertising and person-to-person outreach.”

People who are interested in applying for Medi-Cal

can sign up year-round online or by mail. They can also enroll in person at their local human services agency. For more information about Medi-Cal enrollment, go to www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/medical/pages/applyformedi-cal.aspx or call your local county human services agency. You can also visit Covered California’s website at www.coveredca.com or call 1-800-300-1506.

The article above is brought to you by California Black Media, a coalition of Black -owned media outlets committed to making a difference in our communities. It is made possible via a grant for public outreach from The California Endowment. We share the common goal in reaching as many residents as possible with useful information that will help expand access to affordable, quality healthcare to all Californians.

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UpFront How Smartphones May Influence Police Reform

STEPHEN ODUNTAN

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ow big of an impact have smartphones had on policing black neighborhoods?” That question, posed by an audience member at last month’s town hall meeting where more than 250 people packed the Inglewood’s Faithful Central Bible Church for a discussion to address the growing problem of police misconduct in the African American community.

“These cell phone cameras is our temporary best weapon to catch police misconduct, said Civil Rights attorney and radio host Leo Terrell in response to the question. “So it’s critical,” he added, “that the public utilizes the use of smartphones wherever you see a police encounter.

Other participants in the meeting included Congresswoman Maxine Waters, State Senator Isadore Hall III, Assemblyman Mike Gipson, Assemblyman Reggie Jones-Saqyer, lAPD Deputy Chief William Scott, Civil Rights Attorney John Harris, FBI Special Agent Robert Clark, and actor and community activist Harry Lennix The meeting was expected to be tense as residents peppered law enforcement officials with questions about a number of unarmed people killed by police in high-profile incidents during the past year—including Michael Brown, Eric Garner, 12-year-old Tamir Rice, Ezell Ford and Walter Scott.

“Just the other day in west los Angeles I saw two LAPD officers stop an individual. What did I do? I videotaped

News Brief

Staff Writer

Supreme Court Sides With NAACP On Housing

Raw smartphone footage of South Carolina Officer Michael Slager shooting Walter Scott in the back on April 4, 2015 it. I was encouraged to do so because it is very important to show the other side. It is important the public understands that LAPD officers try to incriminate you.

They do not try to exonerate,” said Terrell to a loud applause from the audience.

Terrell’s comments illustrate a severe breakdown in public confidence between the black community and law enforcement that the town hall meeting aimed at addressing in the hopes of finding common ground.

Lennix, who moderated the meeting, told the audience, “That the recent spotlight on a long list of unarmed individuals who’ve lost their lives at the hands of police—the vast majority of whom have not been indicted—and when indicted

are not convicted—“ underscores the urgent need to review the current “schizophrenic justice system,” and discuss possible solution.”

The star of films including “Man of Steel,” “Ray” and “The Matrix” added, “The purpose of this event is to gain some insights into the conditions that undermines the cause and effects of community and police relations.”

“I think we all want the same thing,” said Deputy Chief Scott. “When I have an officer before me involved in a misconduct case and I have cellphone footage that’s great. I encourage people to videotape officers. I have no problem with that if it will help us get to the truth. I don’t think anybody with commonsense will

In a long-sought victory for civil rights advocates—and the Obama administration— the Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, upheld a key tool used for more than four decades that prohibits racial discrimination in housing.

The Supreme Court’s June 25 ruling stem from accusations that the Texas housing department had violated the Fair Housing Act, and engaged in racial discrimination, by allocating almost all affordable-housing credits in predominantly black urban neighborhoods, while denying credits to those in wealthier white neighborhoods. The disparate impact was that this essentially kept black people from moving into white areas, and perpetuated segregation.

“What is true in the Dallas area is true everywhere in the country, which is that government practices confine people of color to underserved, violent neighborhoods with terrible schools where there are no jobs,” said Florence Roisman, housing law expert who is the board of community group that brought the challenge. “It’s past time for that to stop.”

Justice Anthony Kennedy, a conservative who often cast the deciding vote in close cases, joined the four liberals in the majority.

“The Fair Housing Act “must play an important part in avoiding the grim…prophecy that ‘[o]ur nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal,” Kennedy wrote.

Smartphones continued on page 13

Isadore Hall Lands Major Support In Bid For 44th Congressional Seat STEPHEN ODUNTAN Staff Writer

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pledged support for me as well.”

Hall, who won his state senate seat in a special election following the resignation of former Senator Rod Wright, said, “When I go out and speak sometimes, I have to inform people that I ran for office to fulfill and complete the unexpired term of Senator Rod Wright.”

Wright, 63, who represented an Inglewood-area district, submitted his resignation after he was convicted and sentenced to three months in jail last December for perjury and voter fraud.

“And so,” continued Hall “I only have two years in the senate whether I ran for congress or the senate; either way I’d be in the election next year; because I would still be completing the unexpired term of Rod Wright. I didn’t have a four-year run like other senators.”

During Hall’s tenure in the Assembly, some of his noteworthy legislative accomplishments include addressing the state’s fiscal crisis, creating green jobs and providing broader access to education through technology.

“The reality is every child is not going to go to college. And so if we only have say 10% of high school graduates going to college – it becomes incumbent on lawmakers to provide other alternatives for the 90% of young adults who have no desire pursuing a higher education.

“Therefore, what we’re doing is creating alternative paths of success and looking into some

of the programs at technical schools.

There should be opportunity for those who graduate to earn incomes starting upward of $40-$50 thousand dollars. So that is why I am investing a lot of energy focusing on education, employment, transportation, goods and service programs.”

Additionally, Hall has worked diligently with the mayor of Inglewood trying to approve construction of an 80,000seat NFL stadium, saying the NFL’s return to LA County will bring over 10,000 new jobs and a range of additional economic development opportunities for residents still struggling to enter or re-enter the job market.

Supporters of Hall’s bid for the House seat say he has been an influential and decisive voice on various public issues ranging from improving public safety, helping create sustainable statewide water policy, to reducing child obesity and diabetes—particularly among African Americans.

But Hall says some of his biggest challenges as a public servant revolve around several impediments he has faced with the affordable care act.

“As much as I am determined to see a healthier California, I am extremely frustrated at trying to get more conservatives to understand the importance of passing legislation that prevents some doctors that are signed into the California medical registry who because the reimbursements are so low; they are opting not to serve our community.

Isadore Hall continued on page 13

Same-Sex Marriage Declared Legal; CAAP Prepare For Civil Disobedience When the Supreme Court ruled that states must authorize and recognize gay and lesbian marriages—effectively ending the ban on same-sex marriage that was still in effect in some 13 states, the decision did not sit well with the Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP), who days before the ruling was announced, vowed there would be mass civil disobedience by members of the clergy across the nation.

“You do something to get arrested to call attention to the injustice,” said Rev. Bill Owens, president of the CAAP. “I was in the civil rights movement, so I know how to do it.

When we sat at the counters at restaurants, we knew we were going to be arrested.”

The landmark ruling, which President Barack Obama has voiced his support for, puts him at odds with several prominent black churches that believe marriage should solely be between a man and a woman.

“I came out very powerfully against Mr. Obama when he stood for same-sex marriage,’ Owen’s said.

He added the church has remained relatively silent on Obama, who only publicly pledged his support for gay marriage in 2012—reversing his position on the issue just six months before the November election.

Meanwhile, Owen’s said he has his “work cut out”—acknowledging a call for civil disobedience would be challenging.

L.A. Focus/July 2015

ess than seven months after he was elected as State Senator in a landslide, Isadore Hall has already jumped into the 2015 congressional race—with all eyes on the 44th Congressional seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Janice Hahn—who in February announced she will be retiring from Congress—but declared “enthusiastic support” behind Hall to replace her congressional seat.

So far, the 43-year-old Compton Democrat has garnered some major congressional endorsements that not only include Hahn, but also Governor, Jerry Brown, Mayor Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles), Rep. Robert Garcia (Long Beach), and City Council Members Albert Robles (Carson) and Jose Solache (Lynwood).

“I have congressional endorsements from every city in the district,” Hall noted. “I also have support across the nation from several members in the congressional black pack. But more importantly, I am not only attracting support from minorities – Americans of all colors have

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On Rachel Dolezal’s Double Life achel A. Dolezal, the the 1930s. recently resigned The bottom line is that president of the You're What You Say modernity permits liberties You Are Spokane, Washington, office previously unknown or unrecof the NAACP, has come ognized. Today we're not held under a bit of controversy. to reality. For example, one Both of her parents are white, but for eight does not have to accept the limitations of years, Dolezal claimed that she was black. biology. Say that one is born with XX sex In addition to her role as president of an chromosomes and is therefore female or NAACP chapter, Dolezal was an instructor that one is born with XY sex chromosomes of Africana studies at Eastern Washington and is therefore male. One doesn't have to University. accept nature's deterSome critics claim that Rachel mination. An XXer Dolezal's actions were motivated by greed can say that he's a and narcissism. By becoming a black per- male. Or an XYer can son, she could more easily become an say he's a she. One's NAACP leader, chair a police watchdog sex is seen as optioncommittee and get a teaching appoint- al. Moreover, if a male ment. claims to be a female, Dolezal is not the only white woman others are expected to who has benefited from racial fakery. Sen. acknowledge that. For Elizabeth Warren claimed that she was of example, Bruce Walter E. Cherokee Indian ancestry. That helped her Jenner, Olympic Williams land a job at diversity-hungry Harvard decathlon champion University as a professor of law. Not only and reality show personality, has recently was her great-grandfather not a Cherokee become Caitlyn Jenner. People now are as she claimed but also he was a white man required to address him as her. who boasted of shooting a Cherokee There is a condition known as species Indian. dysphoria, similar to gender dysphoria. It Personally, I don't hold either Dolezal is a condition in which people think they or Warren at fault for racial fakery. If you are animals trapped in human bodies. I've read my autobiography, "Up From the been giving this option some serious Projects," you will see that I had the occa- thought. I've been thinking of calling sion to fake my race. It was 1960, during myself a springbok trapped in a human my troubled time in the U.S. Army, when I body. Some people might argue that I had just landed from a troop carrier in would be in need of psychological treatIncheon, South Korea. Upon disembarka- ment. I'd dismiss such a claim as being anition, soldiers were required to fill out a malphobic. You might ask, "Williams, why vital information form denoting one's next in the world would you want to call yourof kin, religion, blood type and race, among self a springbok?" I would be doing it for other things. Where it asked for race, I personal gain, just as Rachel Dolezal and checked off "Caucasian." The chief warrant Elizabeth Warren benefited by pretending officer, in charge of inspecting the forms, they were of another race. I'd be doing it for told me that I had made an error by check- tax reasons. I've read a considerable ing off "Caucasian." I told him that I hadn't amount of the Internal Revenue Code. It and was in fact Caucasian. After a couple says nothing about wild animals having a of minutes or so of going back and forth, he federal tax obligation. Were government asked me why I would put down officials to demand that I, as a springbok, "Caucasian." I told him that if I put down pay taxes, I'd report them to the Society for "Negro" — what we called ourselves at that the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. time — I'd be given the worst job. I never Walter E. Williams is a professor of ecochanged the form, but the officer probably nomics at George Mason University. To did. find out more about Walter E. Williams By the way, faking one's race is not and read features by other Creators uncommon.

Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the There was a 1947 study by E.W. Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creEckard — "How Many Negroes 'Pass'?" — ators.com. which estimated that 2,600 Negroes had become white, or passed, each year during

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Headlines From Africa Burundi: Government and opposition members maintain that civilians and army deserters may be planning an armed struggle to topple Burundi's leadership after 50 days of street protests. 77 fatalities have been tied to the unrest that has prompted an estimated 150,000 civilians to seek refuge in neighboring countries since President Pierre Nkurunziza was nominated to stand for re-election.

Chad: Following two suicide bombings believed to have been the work of Boko Haram, Prime Minister Kalzeube Pahimi Deubet banned people from wearing full face veils along with any clothing that covers everything but the eyes. Veils were used as camouflage in the suicide bombings that claimed 20 lives.

L.A. Focus/July 2015

Eritrea: A UN commission of inquiry warned that the situation in Eritrea is dire, calling on the UN Human Rights Council to maintain close scrutiny on violations that may constitute crimes against humanity. An estimated 5,000 people flee the country every month (over 400,000 in all according to the UN) due to a government that rules with impunity— imprisoning people at will and subjecting many to national service in harsh and inhumane conditions—leaving its subjects with little control over much of their own lives.

Gambia: Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh is being accused of trying to price potential opponents out of the market through massive rises in registration fees for presidential elections. Under a bill being put before parliament, candidates could be charged one million dalasi ($25,000) to run in any future campaigns -- 10,000 times the current cost. The sum would differ from a conventional election deposit in that it would be non-refundable, even upon victory. Similar charges for political parties with smaller, yet still significant, increases for parliamentary and mayoral elections.

Ghana: The governments of Ghana and the United States of America (USA) have signed a $5-million Child Protection Compact. The five-year partnership will bolster the efforts of the Government of Ghana and civil society organizations to address child trafficking and forced child labor in Ghana.

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ow did embattled ly too sensitive about race as activist Rachel The Chronicles of a he purports, quite frankly Dolezal’s controversial European Caucasian depends on your school of identity quagmire garner thought.

The story of NAACP Fraud national attention amid sevDolezal, however, and her eral other important matters assumed life as a black of public concerns that need to be woman catapulted from obscurity to headresolved? lines after her estranged parents ousted I’ll tell ya, white privilege and race con- her as white, and due to a combination of tinue to dominate discourse in America. public record requests, internet comments, But white privilege hoping to pass for coupled with a series of racial harassment African American— reports Dolezal filed with police. As all despite looking about those elements converged, her story began as white as a white to unravel, and almost as if at gunpoint woman can be before emerged into the public imagination. she started passing Dolezal’s—and might I add Bruce herself off as mixed— Jenner, aka Caitlyn Jenner—are someis a story that would what entertaining tales that have all the captivate any race- elements that clearly seem to be intentionobsessed nation. ally deceptive say critics, who point out And perhaps Jenner had six children from three differwhy—despite the ent marriages before deciding on his tranStephen abrupt cancellation of sition into a woman.

Oduntan all the attention, Though, when you compare the two, Dolezal, a professor of African American Dolezal’s actions are more egregious, nevStudies at Eastern Washington ertheless, Jenner, in his quest for acceptUniversity, who complained that the film ance, plunged into womanhood—successThe Help was, “A white woman [making] fully duping people into seeing him as a millions off of a black woman’s story,” and woman including President Barack even gave a lecture on black hair—suc- Obama who weighed in on the former cessfully had the public transfixed on the Olympian’s new journey and tweeted, “It entire Dolezal saga, a former NAACP takes courage to share your story.” But leader and prominent civil rights activist, Jenner’s duplicity in all honesty would be who was forced to resign for falsely por- classified a misdemeanor thus deserves a traying herself as black. tad bit more leniency compared with Did she really touch a raw cultural Dolezal’s that would be tantamount to nerve that forced America to once again felony perjury. grapple with some hard truths about race?

But whilst Jenner has an army of supClarence Thomas, the second African porters that have congratulated the 65American justice to serve on the Supreme year-old on what they call a “brave” deciCourt of the United States would say sion surrounding his journey from absolutely not.

Clarence believes Olympic icon to transgender woman—nev“Everybody is sensitive” on race matters. ertheless, left wing pundits are struggling During a chapel service hosted by the non- to explain Dolezal’s surreptitious transfordenominational Christian University mation from a white girl to a black woman.

Thomas said, “My sadness is that we are New York Times columnist Charles Blow probably more race and difference-con- summed it up superbly and described scious than I was in the 1960s when I went Dolezal as a “woman with no black herto school. To my knowledge, I was the first itage, has apparently, through an elaboblack kid in Savannah, Georgia to go to a rate scheme of deception and denial, white school. Rarely did the issue of race claimed for years to be a product of black come up. [But] now, name a day it doesn’t heritage. come up.”

“If this were simply a matter of a perThomas rarely speaks from the bench son appreciating, emulating or even approand when he does, often his controversial priating the presentation and performance opinions; especially on race are perhaps of a race,” writes Blow, “other than one more aligned with the Tea Party move- society prescribes to her based simply on ment. her appearance, it wouldn’t be a story.

Oduntan continued on page 24 But whether or not Americans are real-

H

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Kenya: A new pneumonia vaccine, PCV-10, is being hailed as a success by researchers in Kenya, based on a seven year study of 35,000 children. 80% of the children showed a stronger resistance to pneumonia after receiving the vaccine. Given the results, the vaccine—which will immediately go into circulation— will be made available to babies nationwide.

Niger: Southeast Niger is experiencing a rise in child malnutrition as tens of thousands flee the Boko Haram fighting. The nation's Diffa province, where the army has been battling Boko Haram jihadists since February, has seen an influx of people fleeing the conflict, with around 150,000 displaced people swelling the previous population of 600,000 inhabitants.

Nigeria: It was chaos in the nation’s House of Representatives last month when a dispute broke out over the election of their principal officers. The House broke into two factions, one supporting the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, which seeks to choose the House principal officers, and another, backing the speaker, Yakubu Dogara, who insists on defying the party.

Sudan: President Omar al-Bashir evaded arrest in South Africa when he attended the opening of the African Union summit, despite the two international arrest warrants issued for the 71-year-old leader, who is accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide related to the 2003 conflict in Darfur, which claimed more than 300,000 lives.

Uganda: Uganda’s finance minister recently announced plans for a 58% increase in spending to $7.9 billion as outlined in the nation’s 2015-16 budget. Investors, however, are wary that such a boost in government spending in advance of the 2016 elections could spike inflation and trigger social unrest. The nation’s outstanding public debt was projected to hit $7.6 billion by the end of the year.

Zimbabwe: Two former child brides, aged 19 and 20, are suing the Zimbabwe government over its failure to curb child marriages and spearheading an effort to have them declared illegal and unconstitutional. Just last month Zimbabwe's prosecutor general, Johannes Tomana stated that marrying off 12-year-olds is a "practical" and "wholesome" solution for girls who are out of school and for poor families struggling in Zimbabwe's ailing economy.

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 9

UpFront

PeopleFiles

After Gov. Brown Signs School Vaccine Bill, Opponents Vow to Take Vaccine Safety fight National

“The Science is clear that vaccines dramatically protect children from a number of infectious and dangerous diseases,” wrote Gov. Jerry Brown in a press statement his office released after he signed California’s controversial SB 277 legislation this morning in Sacramento.

Also referred to as the “School Vaccine Bill, the new law strips away the right of parents to opt out of vaccinating their children due to personal or religious beliefs unless they keep their children out of all public and private schools and daycares.

The measure gained steam after a measles outbreak that originated in Disneyland in Anaheim and affected about 135 people.

It was co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Pan (D-Sacramento), who is also a pediatrician, and Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica).

Opponents reacted to the unexpected news that the governor signed the bill this morning – less than 24 hours after it hit his desk.

“We are not moved by what the governor or other politicians are saying,” said Min. Tony Muhammad who is the Los Angeles Representative of the Nation of Islam and has been a staunch and vocal opponent of SB. 277. “We know how powerful the pharmaceutical companies are – particularly Merck. And they have paid for the votes of our politicians.”

Muhammad insists that he is not antivaccine – and he is aware how, historically, they have saved lives. However, he explains, that parents – particularly African Americans – do not have enough

information about the safety of vaccines for California to make them mandatory without asking the hard questions.

“It does not alleviate the fact that we have not heard from Dr. William Thompson,” Muhammad said, referring to a senior scientist at the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) who has invoked federal whistleblower status and who admits his team omitted data about African American boys from a major vaccination safety study. The results of the research study, which investigated a connection between the Measles Mumps and Rubella shot and Autism, might have been different with the data included.

“All the people who back this law are referring to the results of a study whose lead scientist says the data is flawed,” says Muhammad. “We need answers. We need to ask Dr. Thompson ‘What did you lie about?’”

Muhammad said his mentor and Nation of Islam (NOI) leader, Louis Farrakhan, has added the issue of Vaccine Safety to his national agenda and it will be part of the issues at the forefront of the group’s 20th anniversary celebration of the 1995 Million Man March this October in Washington. He says the NOI plans to follow up that rally with another one in Atlanta, Georgia, home to the CDC’s headquarters.

“What if Thompson appears before Congress and we find out there is an issue with these vaccines? ” questions Muhammad. “They will have to answer to

COURTESY OF California Black Media

millions of Americans.”

For parents whose kids might have a reaction to vaccines, the governor says there is a way out with the medical exemption.

“SB 277, while requiring that school children be vaccinated, explicitly provides an exception when the physician believes that circumstances – in the judgment and sound description of the physician – so warrant.”

Opponents are not convinced. In a climate where most pediatricians are firing patients who do not vaccinate fully and on schedule, getting a medical exemption is out of reach for most families.

Obama’s Approval Rating Rises 50% This time last year, poll after poll charted President Barack Obama’s approval ratings dipping expeditiously—with the cruelest from a Quinnipiac University survey that found voters ranked Obama as the worst president since World War II. But a year later and a remarkable big month in June that will most certainly help define his legacy long after he leaves office; chances are history will be very generous with Obama, who last month won three major victories at the Supreme Court, with the justices upholding the Affordable Care Act, legalizing same-sex marriage, and preserving a legal tool that can be used to fight housing discrimination.

Obama also won new powers from Congress to bring home an expansive Pacific Rim free-trade deal that analyst said could boost U.S. economic standing in Asia and ultimately burnish his foreign policy legacy.

Eurasia Group president Ian Bremmer, told Business Insider that the Trans-Pacific Partnership is the “most important piece” of Obama-foreign policy legacy.

With Obama securing major milestone victories, he appeared to sense a circle closing and vindication for his first presidential campaign that set out to forge transformational change.

“America soars when we look out for one another and we take care of each other, when we root for one another’s success,” Obama said.

“We [should] strive to do better than the generation that came before us and try to build something better for generations to come.”

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 10

Dylann Roof had hoped to start a race war when he walked into Charleston, South Carolina’s Emanuel AME Church and after being welcomed by the pastor and the dozen or so members—and sitting for more than an hour, he rose up and murdered nine of them, including a pastor— Clementa Pinckney—who’d become a rising star on the state’s political scene.

As news of the massacre broke, Christians around the country were united in their shock and dismay as if in that moment, there was but one church and its response was universal: grief.

Bishop Charles Blake, Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ called on Christians to pray. First AME held a prayer vigil. Some pastors took to twitter. Wayne Chaney, pastor of Antioch Church of Long Beach, tweeted, “Legislation can regulate discriminatory practices but only the transformation of the heart can eradicate hate.”

Pastor Toure Roberts of One Church International posted, “As men of the word, we will never be short of philosophies and so-called explanations to tragedies like this, even when at first the very news of what happens sends our systems into shock.

“We all can communicate a compelling explanation of where we feel "God was"…. Nevertheless, in moments like this, it is better to grieve with those who grieve, and try to—as a fellow human—empathize to the best of our ability. Tomorrow (whenever that may be) we will dust ourselves off, and stand on the solid foundation of Christ's victory and love. We will rebuild, and together pursue a better world for generations yet to be born.”

Fact is, instead of the war Roof had hoped to spark, the mayor, police chief and city of Charleston as well as a nation of black, white and all ethnicities rose up against him, galvanized in a collective effort to remove the last standing remnants of symbolism tied to the beliefs Roof says motivated him, —most notably the Confederate flag.

In the days that followed, Walmart, Sears, Target and other big name retailers announced they would no longer sell the Confederate flag amidst a groundswell of support to remove any imagery tied to an era that…

"This tragedy,” said Bishop T.D. Jakes, “was fermented within a segment of the community that birthed and informed the mindset of Dylann Roof CHEZ HADLEY & LISA COLLINS and others like him.”

Staff writers “Someone should have told the young man. He wanted to start a race war, but he came to the wrong place, “4th District Bishop John Bryant told the thousands who attended the funeral.

But while the 21-year old-racist didn’t succeed in his mission, his actions issued a wake up call to churches around the country to take a second look at their security. With their doors most often open during times of service, the Charleston tragedy confirmed that they were indeed soft targets for violence.

The LAPD put its patrols on special alert around houses of worship.

“This is an attack on the cornerstone of American culture and the American people,” said L.A.P.D. chief Charlie Beck.

Though rare, violence has been no stranger to the church. Alberta Williams King, the mother of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was shot and killed while sitting on the organ at Atlanta’s Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1974.

“Our church tragically knows that the unimaginable can happen,” said Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, whose church now enlists armed off-duty police officers as part of its security detail.

The first mass murder at a church on record actually came in 1963 when four little girls were killed in the bombing at the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. There have been over a dozen mass killings since, including a 2005 incident at the Living Church of God in Brookfield, Wisconsin where a man angered by his pastor’s sermon left the Sunday morning service only to return shooting. The pastor and six members were shot dead before he turned the gun on himself.

75 deaths from attacks at faith-based organizations occurred in 2012–a 36 percent increase over the previous year, according to church violence researcher Carl Chinn, who was taken hostage by a disgruntled gunman in 1996 at a Colorado Springs church.

There have been over 700 "deadly force incidents" since he first started keeping record in 1999. Guns were used in the majority of them.

Chin, in part, attributes a breakdown of reverence and respect to the church.

"It wasn't too many years ago that even gangs respected church grounds.

Now we're seeing more incidents from violent disputes between congregants that break out during services to break-ins, assaults and other crimes.”

In 2013, the federal government stepped in with a first-ever report outlining security recommendations for houses of worship. The 38-page plan, released just days after a man was shot and wounded during a Catholic Mass in Salt Lake City, advised congregations to plan for potential emergencies, including what police call random "active shooter" situations. The options

CHARLESTON MASSACRE: A WAKE-UP CALL FOR CHURCHES

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 11

then offered to churches in defense were to: run, hide or, as a last resort, fight.

Here in Los Angeles, a man was arrested after stabbing a security guard at West Angeles Church of God in Christ in January 2014. One month later, a man was killed and a church security guard was injured when a gunman fired at them outside of the 88th Street Temple Church of God in Christ.

Churches differ on how they feel about and approach the subject of security measures. Traditionally, ushers had been the first line of defense, but over the years security at churches has ranged from cameras throughout the facility to keep an eye on who’s coming and going, armed security, plainclothes security detail, male volunteers to areas that require fingerprint scanner access.

The larger the church, the more likely an advanced security strategy is in place, with churches like West Angeles COGIC, City of Refuge, Crenshaw Christian Center and Faithful Central often employed retired or off-duty police officers.

But with the events of last month, Marc Little, Chief Operating Officer and general counsel at Faithful Central Bible Church said churches across the country, no matter the size, will be thinking about or acting on their security.

“Security was already tight here at Faithful Central as it relates to being aware that there are people who are interested in doing harm, but,” said Little, “we have increased our measures beyond what already existed to be ever more vigilant.”

Most congregations have no way of knowing who is walking through their doors. In some areas there is a long tradition of pastors who also carry guns and in Florida, people are allowed to carry weapons into churches.

During an interview on Fox News, Bishop E.W. Jackson, senior pastor of Fall Church in Chesapeake, Virginia, defended the idea of pastors bearing arms to protect their flock "I just think it's something we have to be aware of and not create an atmosphere where people take out their violent intentions against Christians," Jackson said. "And I would also urge pastors and men in these churches to prepare to defend themselves. It's sad, but I think that we've got to arm ourselves…Nine people are dead. I think that people understand that it's sad but this is the world we live in."

Chuck Chadwick founded Gatekeepers Security Services in 2006 and at his Texas facility, volunteers from church communities pay for six days of courses on defense tactics including handcuffing suspects and firearms training, leaving the program certified and licensed in private security approved by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

For Pastor Xavier Thompson, pastor of Southern Missionary Baptist Church and president of the Baptist Minister’s Fellowship, the simple truth is that houses of worship have become targets and Charleston was a manifestation of that.

“Our security is that of armed and unarmed security strategically planted throughout our campus to protect and insure that ours parishioner are provided a safe environment to worship God,” Thompson notes.

“The way we live has dramatically changed and the church cannot afford for the world to be wiser than the church. The

threat of wickedness and evil men is real. It is incumbent upon us that the church make the adjustment or we will see more of what we saw in Charleston.”

Apostle Beverly Crawford of the Inglewood-based Bible Enrichment Fellowship has had security since she founded the church in 1989.

“When I first started out as women pastor, I was getting a lot of threats against my life,” Crawford said. “Men were threatening to come and remove me from the pulpit, so I started with security. I used to be afraid, but over the years God has given me a peace about what I do. Out of wisdom, I do not travel alone, but my major concern is for my congregation and I have regular briefings with the head of security as well as the ushers so that we can maintain a high level of safety for the members of the church.”

At Mt. Moriah Baptist Church, the wake up call came three years ago.

“We had a young African American man to walk into church with a stocking cap on,” Pastor Melvin Wade recalls. “He started in the back of the church and the next thing I know he’s in the front of the church. Then he went underneath the choir stand and was sitting on the front row, but some of my members were watching him and followed him to the parking lot only to find out that there were two vans with some guys in it and no license plates. That’s when I started.

“Yesterday we did some shoring up to make sure that what we do here is safe. One of the things I did was to make sure that women no longer park on the street.”

Not everyone however sees beefed up security as the answer.

Rev. Gregory Sanders of the Long Beach Ministers Alliance and pastor of The Rock Christian Fellowship says “Absolutely not” to the idea of pastors taking radical measures to beef up security.

“The insanity of the hate-centered attack on the sanctity of faith across America should not be the conduit of fear, but our catalyst of commitment. We are not afraid and we are not asleep.”

On the Sunday following the tragedy Sanders urged people to pack their churches.

“It is the responsibility of this entire nation to show the world, that these three men and six women did not die in vain.”

Pastor Shep Crawford of The Experience Christian Ministry doesn’t agree.

“Any pastor who’s saying no, we’re not going to put security in. They wouldn’t say that if it happened at their church, so instead of us being re-active, we’re going to have to be proactive. It’s not a lack of faith. If we have a headache, we take an aspirin.

“Jesus told us to do two things: to watch and pray. We have people, who look out for the first family, but we haven’t necessarily been calling them security, nor have we made sure that they were armed, but it’s a discussion now. I have a church full of unchurched and I know that some of them are armed.

“We had one guy walk straight up to me in on our life studies with some fake flowers and we didn’t know what that was.

We’ve had our cars scratched while we were in service, so most

definitely we have to step up our security. And for those who are saying that God is our protection, I believe he is, however it's a wakeup call for me.”

The irony not lost on Crawford is that the church was set up to deal with people who are desperate and at their lowest.

“What we’re finding is that we have to address the issue of mental health and we’re not equipped to do that,” adds his wife, Shalonda Crawford. “You find people who are lonely and desperate…jobless and a lot of time, it stems from undiagnosed, unrecognized mental health and churches, in particular, (unless you are a mega church) are not equipped to deal with it.”

“I made a call to suicide and 30% of the church at some point came up,” her husband continued. “So when those type of people come in and they have that look, we have say, welcome, let me minister to you, but in light of what just happened, we also have to look at maybe sitting plainclothes security by them…I’m asking God for discernment.”

Churches aren’t the only ones becoming proactive. So too, are the companies that insure them. Pastor L.A. Kessee of Bethany Church of West Los Angeles was one of many pastors to receive a letter from his insurance company requiring him to organize a security team in addition to the armed security we already have as a direct result of what happened in Charleston.

The additional cost of security is a burden to some of the smaller churches. Rev. Roderick Walker of Tabernacle of Praise Baptist Church hasn’t had security for his church, but was going to have a meeting with the men to talk about it.

“It’s a sad commentary, but I’m sure more churches will be putting security in place to insure that this doesn’t happen again.

In some cases you are going to have to have armed people in church for the protection of the church, the parishioners and the pastor.”

New Life Christian Center pastor Keith Jenkins believes it’s going to get even darker for the church.

“The gospel has something to say about the depravity of human beings and the solution being in the salvation of Jesus Christ and our own transformation. We’ve got multiple LAPD officers in our church who attend on a weekly basis so we’ve definitely gone over our security plan.“ But Jenkins was quick to add: “The weapon of a fanatic for any cause—a man or woman willing to give their lives for that cause—there’s really no defense against them. Our freedom becomes a weapon that’s used against us. We’re free to move and free to worship and he used their hospitality and their openness against them.

“What security plan would have prevented that unless we start putting metal detectors at our doorways in our houses of worship. As a Marine, I’ve seen suicide bombers and the like in Iraq and Afghanistan and you can do the best you can to be vigilant, but it’s very difficult to guarantee that it won’t happen.”

“It could happen anywhere,” says Pastor Larry Weaver of Atherton Baptist Church.

“Los Angeles, just like Charleston, could be a target because the devil is busy everywhere throughout the nation and the world.

We have to pray, trust God and be diligent and mindful that these types of things are taking place.”

“THE “THE EMANUEL EMANUEL NINE” NINE”

Rev. Clementa Pinckney

Ethel Lance

Rev. Sharonda Singleton

Tywanza Sanders

Cynthia Heard

Susie Jackson

Rev. Daniel L. Simmons Sr.

Myra Thompson

Rev. DePayne Middleton-Doctor

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 12

MoneyMatters

On the Money

Entrepreneur’s Queens Of Africa Dolls Outselling Barbie In Nigeria

W

ith blue eyes, blonde hair, long eyelashes, a resources were limited and his self-financed business slender figure, pale skin and features that pro- faced hard times. mote unrealistic beauty standards, Mattel’s “At first, the children didn't seem so thrilled. After a Barbie doll is fighting to remain No. 1 on children’s wish period of two years, talking, promoting and stressing on lists. the importance of dolls in their likeness, children and parAnd now that the Queens of Africa Dolls are gaining ents have come to love and embrace the dolls,” Okoya said. traction, Barbie, whose sales have been slumping for the “We seem to have overcome the acceptance challenge.” past three years, has some fierce competition.

As of January 2015, the Queens of Africa Dolls, modeled In 2007, when Taofick Okoya, CEO of Fico Solutions after three of the country's biggest tribes, are outselling Ltd and creator of Queens of Africa Dolls, was in search of Barbie in Nigeria. a gift for his niece and was unsuccessful, he decided to According to Huff Post Black Voices and Reuters, take matters into his own hands. The result was designing Okoya sells 6,000-9,000 Queens of Africa dolls monthly a line of inspirational ethnic dolls. and holds 10-15% of a fast growing market.

“I'm not one to criticize and complain without taking “Now, we are at the sales and distribution challenge. In action,” said Okoya, who has a daughter of his own. “I Nigeria we don't have chain stores with branches all over needed to make her proud and happy being a black African the country. This makes it really difficult and expensive to girl.” get the products to other states.”

The 43-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur, who holds a After eight years on the market Queens of Africa dolls diploma in ceramic designs, created the QOA dolls to has six module characters: three African queens and three depict and promote African culture, enhance self-esteem, Naija Princess; each dressed in respective traditional celebrate being a black girl in the 21st century, and most attire manufactured and clothed in a small factory in of all, to tackle greater social issues.

Lagos. Each doll represents a different tribe of Africa.

“What children are exposed to impacts them psycholog- There is NNEKA (Igbo), AZEEZAH (Hausa) and WURAOically in the long run,” Okoya said. “There are so many LA (Yoruba). subliminal messages that we deal with on a day to day They are sold in Nigeria for 1,300 to 3,500 naira basis. The way you get to understand the mind of the (about $22) each with clothing and accessories ranging child is by giving them a pen and some crayons. from $2.60 to $5.19.

The same way you Okoya has since established an international marcan give them dolls ket relationship with consumers in UK, US, to roll play with.”

Netherlands, Switzerland and other countries Despite his outside of Africa and makes 100-150 dolls innovative idea a day. and the ability “We have a wide assortment of varito apply his cre- ation in hair and clothes, and these a t i v i t y, Money Matters continued on page 24 Akon

Akon Company Invests $400M So Far In African Solar Power Venture When not recording hit singles or producing hot music, R&B artist Akon, who is worth $80 million, has been busy bringing sustainable electricity to Africa through his organization, Akon Lighting Africa.

The Senegalese-American singer, who was born in St. Louis, recently launched a solar academy project in West Africa to supply electricity to 600 million people.

According to co-founder Samba Baithily, the solar academy will open this summer with the purpose of teaching people effective ways to maintain solar-powered electricity systems in a continent that has 320 days of sun per year.

Akon, who also owns a diamond mine in South Africa, estimates that installing a pilot solar lighting program in each village costs $75,000 to $200,000 and the firm has invested almost $400 million so far.

“We started with just creating solar energy for rural areas and homes, and now we’re doing solar streetlamps,” Akon said. “We’re putting solar in all the villages. And we’re actually creating a system where we are employing all the locals to be able to maintain it.”

Since its inception in 2014, Akon Lighting Africa has launched in 14 countries and created more than 1,200 jobs.

“As a regular person there's not much you can do, but as a celebrity you can influence millions of people, which makes it a lot easier. I like to take advantage of that and find more ways to bring opportunities to Africa,” said Akon, who is costarring film American Heist.

Biz NewsBriefs

L.A. Focus/July 2015

Shaun Robinson Leaves ‘Access Hollywood’ After 16 Years, Signs Deal With NBC Universal

12

Host Shaun Robinson is leaving “Access Hollywood” after 16 years with the entertainment news show.

The 52-year-old, who joined the team in 1999, left the show last month to focus on her production company, which just signed a deal with NBC Universal.

Under the new deal, Robinson will develop and/or produce scripted and unscripted television projects.

“I have a production company called Robin Hood Productions, and my passion is empowering young women to live their lives as fully as

they can,” she says. “So I'm working on a few projects now that show women in very powerful positions.”

Robinson said it was a conversation she had with Kerry Washington that convinced her to pursue a new passion.

“She told me about a point in her career where she said ‘I want to try something different,’ and she tried TV, and look where it got her. Everyone loves Scandal,” she says.

“That conversation really resonated with me and inspired me to just go for my dreams and take that leap of faith.”

Intel Capital Launches $125M Fund for Women & Minority Entrepreneurs Intel Capital, Intel Corporation's global investment organization announced they will invest in technology startups run by women and underrepresented minorities through the Intel Capital Diversity Fund. The largest of its kind, the fund totals approximately $125 million, and investments will cover a broad spectrum of innovative industries.

July 11 - July 25 ~ August 1 - August 22 July 11 - August 29 ~ *July 7 - August 25 (Spanish) Upcoming Events: Wed., July 15 6-8pm, Social Media Wkshp: Grow Your Business With Periscope Wed., July 29 6-8pm, Business Success In The Health & Fitness Industry

“We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace is fundamental to delivering business results,” said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. “Our goal with this new fund is to meaningfully support a technology startup workforce more reflective of society, and ultimately to benefit Intel and the broader economy through its success.”

This news follows the January announcement of Intel's Diversity in Technology initiative, designed to encourage more diversity at Intel and within the technology industry at large. Intel has declared its intent to achieve full representation of women and underrepresented minorities in its U.S. workforce by 2020.

Only 15 percent of venture capital-funded companies in the United States have a woman on the executive team, according to a recent Babson College report, and companies with a woman CEO receive only 3 percent of total venture capital dollars.

Furthermore, less than 1 percent of the founders of Silicon Valley companies are African American or Latino; nearly 100 percent of funded founders are white or Asian, according to industry surveys.

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 13

CALL TODAY:

(310) 935-3015

Smartphones continued from page 7

argue against that.”

Terrell, however, quickly balked at Scott’s remarks, pointing out that officers of color are a part of the problem because they know what’s going on but they don’t do enough to expose police misconduct.

“In my 25-years of practicing law, I never saw any officers of color, who are aware of police misconduct, come forward and expose officers that abuse the badge.

“If it wasn’t for the federal government, they would never have been a federal consent degree against the LAPD. If it weren’t for the federal government, there wouldn’t be a current consent degree against the LA Country Sheriff Department. The District’s Attorney (DA) never indicts those officers, because the DA is in bed with the lAPD.” Rafer Owens, pastor of Faith Inspirational Missionary Baptist Church and a deputy sheriff in Compton told LA Focus, “Unless we the police begin to Smartphones continued on page 26

Isadore Hall continued from page 7

“I have a bill I am pushing forward in the senate right now that would guarantee healthcare for low income constituencies.

“We can’t afford to have doctors in our community saying they are not going to serve individuals who are participants of the affordable healthcare act. Especially given the fact our communities have the highest rate of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.”

Hall can’t state enough the importance of funding to address public health issues in low-income communities.

“The sad truth is African Americans have the highest rates of everything.

Take my district; we have the highest rate of diabetic amputation than any other district in California. People need to realize this has a lot to do with the lack of access to quality healthcare. So that’s why I am extremely passionate about making sure I put legislation forward so that our in community and constituencies have access to healthcare.”

Meanwhile, as relations between law enforcement and the African American community remain tense following the deaths of several black men at the hands of white police officers – activists and black lawmakers nationwide; including Hall are calling for social justice reform.

One law, Hall says they are lobbying for right now would require law enforcement officers to go through the same judicial system as civilians in the event of deadly force; “instead of hiding under the guise of the grand jury indictment.

“As you know it’s very hard to get an indictment through the grand jury on a sworn officer. We want to level the playing field such as one that requires all deputies to undergo mental health training and be able to identify individuals with mental health needs.

“There’s another bill there that will require certain services for police officers to go through community based training programs to make them more community oriented and sensitive to black and brown people cultural diversity. There’s like five or six different bills that are going through the legislature right now that black caucus members are lobbying that will change the way they operate in California.

We don’t want to have another Rodney King.”

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 14

T h r o u g h t he Storm An Innocent Man’s 17-Year Journey from Prison to Exoneration

I

n April, former gang member Obie Anthony was awarded a record $8.3 million settlement from the city of Los Angeles after he was exonerated in the fatal shooting of a Mexican immigrant 21 years ago.

The settlement is among the largest ever paid in a wrongful-imprisonment case in California history.

Surrounded by family, friends and the attorneys who worked to overturn his conviction, Anthony struggled to hold back tears, telling reporters, “The money will never make up for it; no compensation could give me back the years they took from me.”

The 40-year-old’s troubles began after he was accused of taking part in a botched robbery that resulted in the fatal shooting of Felipe Gonzales on March 27, 1994, outside a South Los Angeles brothel.

An anonymous tip that local gang members were involved in the shooting is what led authorities to include Anthony and his friend Reggie Cole in a police lineup.

John Jones, a pimp who ran the brothel where the murder occurred, picked both Anthony and Cole from the lineup. Ironically, they were already in county jail on unrelated charges that were later dismissed.

Jones’ eyewitness testimony marked the beginning of Anthony’s 17-year battle to regain his freedom and prove his innocence.

“I couldn’t believe I was being charged for something I had nothing to do with. The first time I knew anything about anyone being murdered,” recalled Anthony, “was when the cops arrested me and charged me for murder.

“I thought—this has to be a big mistake. I initially thought the justice system would never convict me on such a weak case. Nevertheless they did.”

Court documents would later reveal that Jones, the prosecution’s star witness and the only one who identified both Anthony and Cole as the shooters—made the testimony in exchange for a lighter sentence in another case.

“There were so many holes and inconsistencies in John Jones’ testimony. He said it was pretty dark outside when the shooting occurred, and that he couldn’t really see the gunmen. Yet the prosecution still allowed him to get on the stand and testify against me.

“I knew right then I didn’t stand a chance at proving my innocence, and things were only going to get worse.

His assessment couldn’t have been more painfully accurate.

On August 1, 1995, despite no physical evidence connecting either Anthony or Cole to the victim, both defendants were convicted of murder and attempted robbery.

Their sentence: life in prison without the possibility of parole. Anthony was just 19.

“It was a difficult struggle trying to make sense of what was happening to me at such a young age.

The toughest time for Anthony came two years into his prison sentence.

“I was really alone at that point. I didn’t have much contact with anybody.” Obie Anthony He’d write letters to family and get no response. His

phone calls, he said, were blocked by friends.

As weeks turned into months and months turned into years, everyday life for Anthony often meant trying to find a safe place to avoid dangerous inmates.

“Prison is not a healthy place to be; especially for someone who’s innocent. It’s filled with different types of evils, which forces you to stay alert at all times. There was always tension on the yard, whether between the Mexicans and the blacks or the blacks and the whites.

“Everything is pretty wild in there so no matter how tough you think you are, you still have to find a place of safety to try and protect yourself from being harmed. I had to be mindful of the dangers I faced every time I stepped out of my prison cell. That was pretty much everyday life.”

Anthony maintained a delicate balance by reading books and remained hopeful that he would eventually be released. Yet he kept those same expectations in check.

“Going into the institution at 19, my reading level was really low due to the fact I had missed out on school. As crazy as it might sound, I started reading some of the romantic novels from the prison library. That’s how I began reading different books, everything from the dictionary to legal books.”

The knowledge he gained from reading books while in prison, he said, helped him maintain his sanity.

Before Anthony went to prison, the longest time he spent in high school was eight months at Manual Arts High School, followed by one month at Jefferson High School—both South L.A. schools, and a couple of months at Lincoln High, in East L.A., when he was in the 11th grade.

Finally, in 2000, Anthony’s journey toward freedom began when Cole, his codefendant stabbed a fellow inmate to death. The attorney representing Cole in that case looked into his original conviction and realized a second murder conviction would have made him potentially eligible for the death penalty.

Moreover, the attorney discovered that the prosecution withheld evidence and the conviction was built primarily on Jones’ fabricated testimony.

“In a twist of fate,” said Anthony, “Christopher Plourd, the attorney who represented my codefendant for killing an inmate in self defense, was the one who encouraged me to get in contact with the Northern California Innocence Project (NCIP).”

From that point on Anthony pursued his freedom as vigorously as he could. He filed motions to different courts, all of which were denied, but his efforts eventually paid off in 2008 when the NCIP responded to his letter.

The NCIP looked into Anthony’s case and after interviewing several witnesses including gang members, inmates and prostitutes, they uncovered new evidence.

Most importantly, statements made by the prosecution’s star witness during trial proved to discredit him.

In 2011, after serving 17 years in prison, a superior court judge threw out the conviction—citing egre-

gious prosecutorial misconduct, specifically the trial prosecutor’s failure to correct the false testimony of its key witness.

Asked if the prosecution’s office reached out to him and apologized for the wrongful conviction, Anthony told L.A. Focus, “That is not a practice of the justice system to admit fault because if they acknowledge sending an innocent man to prison, it would make them liable in a civil lawsuit.”

Anthony, who for 15 years attended church every Saturday said, “There were two things that kept giving me strength while I was in prison. First, my faith in my creator because I knew He wouldn’t put a burden on me too heavy I couldn’t handle, and secondly, I knew I would eventually be vindicated.

“I had four pillars of strength while I was in prison,” continued Anthony, beginning with my grandmother/family, my wife, who he started dating after her first prison visit, my creator, and then myself.

Those four pillars provided me the strength I needed to survive all those years incarcerated for a crime I did not commit.”

The entire ordeal has somewhat made Anthony overly cautious saying he keeps a receipt for every purchase because his wrongful conviction showed him that the “prosecution would go to any extent to get a conviction; even if that means ruining an innocent life.”

But Anthony added he doesn’t harbor any anger toward the criminal justice system.

“Anger will prevent me from being productive and having an opportunity to help others.”

Now, Anthony said he plans to use some of his settlement money to “open up a center” for exonerated inmates—with the hopes it would help them make a successful transition back into society—“so that they won’t have to go through some of the struggles I experienced after being released.”

He said, “My focus right now is about helping people in any possible way I can and adding some sort of positive change into peoples lives.”

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 15

INSIDe HO L LY w OOD with Tatiana Rivera Misty Copeland Is American Ballet Theatre’s First Black Female Principal Dancer Ballerina Misty Copeland, 32, made history on June 30th, when she became not only the first black dancer in two decades, but becoming the first AfricanAmerican female principal dancer in the 75history of year American Ballet Theatre (ABT).

“I had moments of doubting myself, and wanting to quit, because I didn’t know that there would be a future for an African-American woman to make it to this level,” Copeland said at a news conference at the Metropolitan Opera House. “At the same time, it made me so hungry to push through, to carry the next generation. So it’s not me up here — and I’m constantly saying that — it’s everyone that came before me that got me to this position.”

AsCopeland appeared on the cover of Time magazine earlier this year as one of the “100 most influential people in the world”.

Jussie Smollett To Guest Star On 'Underground “Empire’s” Jussie Smollett has signed on to guest star in an episode of WGN’s period drama “Underground,” which stars his real-life sister Jurnee Smollett-Bell in which slaves band together for their freedom. Smollett will play

Josey, a wild-eyed runaway who doesn’t trust anyone, not even those trying to help him.

“Underground” is currently in production in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for a 2016 premiere.

Zoe Saldana Slams Gender Inequality in Hollywood “Guardians of the Galaxy” actress and new mother, Zoe Saldana is pointing out the discrepancies between female and male stars in Hollywood.

The “Nina” star told USA Today that securing a basic necessity like child care during shooting is hard to come by, yet men are given perks like a group of assistants, private jets, penthouses and yachts.

“But,” Saldana said, “a woman comes in going, ‘OK, I have a child. You’re taking me away from my home. You’re taking my children away from their home. And you’re going to make me work a lot more hours than I usually would if I was home. Therefore, I would have to pay for this nanny for more hours — so I kind of need that. And they go, ‘Nope, we don’t pay for nannies.'”

She also said getting pregnant almost caused her to be dropped from a film she was working on.

“The productions I was slated to work on sort of had a panic. I heard through the grapevine there was even a conversation of me being written off of one of the projects.”

“I was like, ‘Oh, my God, are you kidding me? It’s this bad?'” Saldana added.

“Right when I just feel super-duper happy, is that inconvenient for you?

That me, as a woman in my thirties, I finally am in love and I am finally starting my life?

And it’s [screwing] your schedule up? Really?”

RAveRevIewS

Terminator Genisys

Minions

Southpaw

After finding himself in a new time-line, Kyle Reese teams up with John Connor's mother Sarah and an aging terminator to try and stop the one thing that the future fears, "Judgement Day".

In theaters July 1.

Minions Stuart, Kevin and Bob are recruited by Scarlet Overkill, a supervillain who, alongside her inventor husband Herb, hatches a plot to take over the world. Featuring Sandra Bullock’s voice. In theaters July 10.

A boxer fights his way to the top, only to find his life falling apart around him.

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams, Naomie Harris, 50 Cent & Forest Whitaker. In theaters July 24.

Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF. In theaters July 31.

Deitrick Haddon, Jessica Reedy To Headline Annual Long Beach Gospel Fest who co-starred in Oxygen’s “Preachers of L.A.” “Where else could you enjoy gospel music by the ocean?” asked Pastor Wayne Chaney.

With over 20,000 attendees a year, the Long Beach Gospel Fest continues to receive rave reviews.

Gospel Fest will take place on July 19, 2015 at Marina Green Park located at 386 E. Shoreline Dr. in Long Beach. For more information, please call: (562) 591-8778 or log into www.longbeachgospelfest.com

Myesha Chaney

JadaPinkett-Smith Recognized for playing strong women on both TV and film, 43-year-old actress Jada Pinkett-Smith has also established somewhat of a reputation for her inspiring social media posts and philanthropy. The Baltimore, Maryland native and wife of Will Smith broke into the business in 1990 when she starred in an episode of “True Colors.” She went on to co-star with Eddie Murphy in “The Nutty Professor,” appeared in “Set It Off,” “Scream 2,” Spike Lee's “Bamboozled,” “Ali” but is best known for playing human rebel Niobe in the films “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions.” In 2009, she returned to TV to star and produce the TNT drama “Hawthorne” and recently played Fish Mooney Fox's crime drama “Gotham.” This month, the mother of two is co-starring in “Magic Mike XXL.” Q: For you, what’s the biggest difference between TV and film?

A: I look at television as a producer’s realm more than a director’s realm where in film the director leads the ship. In television you have to have very strong producers to keep the vision of the show.

My family is my priority. If my family is stable and everyone has what they need, then I look at a way to fit in a creative endeavor," she told Haute.

Q: How do you balance between home and career?

A: Well, one of the things, I have a lot of help. I have a great husband and I have a mother who's very helpful.

I've learned in my life that I really can do as much as I want to do and have as much as I want to have, as long as I'm happy. I'm really motivated by happiness and fulfillment, and so I'm not willing to compromise. I want to be a great mother, I want to be a great wife, and I also want to have a great career. And I feel like I can have all those things. I don't have to compromise not one area in my life.

Q: As a wife and mother, how did you separate your career from home life?

A: It’s not separate. I never stop being a mother and I never stop being an artist. Which is probably why my kids are so creative, because it’s not separated.

Q: What do you think about the racial and gender equality in Hollywood?

A: Women need courage to be able to step out of the box and be who they are meant to be. But in Hollywood right now leading roles for women is a very difficult thing. It’s a particular cycle and it always comes back around. I feel as though as far as roles for women and roles for African-American women, there’s always room. We still need a lot of work in that area.

Q: What are you working on next?

A: I'm just glad to be at a point in my career, and so is Will, where we can go to studios and make them trust us enough to listen. and I hope to continue to help bring projects to the forefront for AfricanAmericans, as well as all other actors.

L.A. Focus/July 2015

As the Long Beach Gospel Fest gets underway July 19, 2015, the heart of downtown Long Beach will play host to one of the nation’s largest gathering of gospel industry professionals and Grammy Award winning artists who come to enjoy music near the beach.

Hosted by Antioch Church of Long Beach Pastor Wayne Chaney and First Lady Myesha Chaney, the most highly anticipated inspirational event of the year, the Long Beach Gospel Festival will showcase some of the best in local, national and international gospel music performers, including Deitrick Haddon, Tina Campbell, Jessica Reedy, Jonathan Nelson, Myron Butler, Tasha Cobbs, Brian Courtney Wilson and Gerald & Tammi Haddon.

What’s more, the event, which will take place from 10:30am-7:00pm, is FREE for general admission (lawn) and only $55 for VIP admission (seating).

“I hope to see you there,” tweeted Myesha Chaney,

Q&A

15

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 16

Calendar of events

Ongoing “Black-ish” actress Tracee Ellis Ross hosted this year’s BET Awards

L.A. County Parks Department hosts Free Summer Lunch & Snacks Program (Through August 8) A healthy alternative for children under 18 to eat during the summer months.

Call for (over 100) participating parks location and times Free • Info: (818) 546-2384 laparks.org/foodprogram On Stage: The Gospel At Colonus (Through July 19) Starring Tony Award Winner Roger Robinson 8pm • $25.00–$35.00 Nate Holden Performing Arts 4718 W Washington Blvd ebonyrep.org

Wednesday, July 1 In Concert: Wale 8pm • $30 • 3503 S Harbor Blvd Santa Ana • observatoryoc.com

Thursday, July 2 Fireworks Spectacular With Smokey Robinson (Through Saturday) 7:30pm • $5–$135 Hollywood Bowl 2301 N. Highland Ave hollywoodbowl.com

Thursday, July 9

L.A. Focus/July 2015

Reality Check Conference Presented by L.A. County Development Foundation Exclusive to HACoLA’s Public Housing & Section 8 participants

16

he Max attends T n a rd ture Jo .

B of the Fu Michael ilm Face F in n e d m o Mara Wo t in West Hollywo e ve n

Featuring Educational workshops, career panels & college resources • Free • 8am–4pm The California Endowment 1000 N. Alameda St

Friday, July 3 In Concert: Blackstreet, Troop, SWV, Ginuwine and Tony!Toni!Tone!

The Greek Theatre 7pm • $52–$145 The Greek Theatre 2700 N Vermont Ave greektheatrela.com Queen Mary hosts AllAmerican 4th of July Celebration Entertainment will span 1940s2000s, including vintage traveling circus & carnival Noon–11pm (fireworks at dusk) Adults: $44 Child (4-11): $24 Parking: $20 • queenmary.com 89th Annual Americafest at the Rose Bowl Largest fireworks show in SoCal plus live motorcycle stunts and a musical performance.

Entertainment 2pm–10pm; Fireworks 9pm $13 (kids ages 7 & under free) Parking $20 Rose Bowl Stadium 1001 Rose Bowl Dr • Pasadena rosebowlstadium.com

Friday, July 10 On Stage: “SHIDA—A New Musical” Presented by Solombra

oducer DeVon n Good and pr Actress Meaga OSE: The PU The 2015 RP Franklin attend ed Summit ment & Faith-Bas Family Entertain riety presented by Va

Ingram’s I’m Every Woman.

Written and Performed by Jeannette Bayardelle 8pm (Sat: 7pm) $20–$25 West Angeles Performing Arts 3020 Crenshaw Blvd shidathemusical.com

Saturday, July 11 Tree Of Life MBC’s 50th Anniversary With Pastor Marc Murchison 9702 Holmes Ave Info: (323) 566-1202 In Concert: Ruben Studdard, Freddie Jackson & Jeffrey Osborne 7pm–8:30pm • Free Burton Chace Park • Marina Del Rey • 13650 Mindanao Way

Contact: (310) 305-9545 31st Annual Bill Pickett Invitational Rodeo (Through Sunday) Sat: 7pm • Sun: 3:30pm Child $20 adv. $25 door Adult $25 adv. $30 door Industry Hills Expo Center 16200 Temple Ave City of Industry Contact: (310) 674-6700 billpickettrodeo.com

Sunday, July 12 Israel Houghton Praise & Worship Concert With Casey J, Todd Dulaney & more • 4pm • $30–$50 Saban Theater 8440 Wilshire Blvd Beverly Hills gdiministrie.com

Thursday, July 16 Annual Espy Awards Top celebrities from sports and entertainment recognize the

eveNT SPOTLIGHT Tuesday, July 28 25th Annual FICWFM Convention (Through July 30) Speakers include: Apostle K.C. Price, Dr. Gloria Williams, Dr. Betty Price, & Dr. Michael Freeman.

Daily programs begin at 9am. Evening services 7pm The Faithdome – Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 S Vermont Ave Contact: (323) 789-3852 • ficwfm.org

“Hunger G ames” act ress Aman Stenberg a d ttends Wo men In Film la Crystal + 2 015 Lucy Award s

Actress Salli Richardson Whitfield is all smiles at the Women in Film 2015 Crystal + Lucy Awards

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 17

(Left): Porsha Williams, Monyetta Shaw, Keshia Knight Pulliam, and Phaedra Parks attend the "Magic Mike XXL" Ladies Night Out Screening in Atlanta. (Photo: Paras Griffin for Getty Images)

(Right): Actors Tichina Arnold, Omari Hardwick, comedian Erica Ash, RonReaco Lee attend the "Power" Premiere in Atlanta year’s major achievements and unforgettable moments.

5pm • $95–$500 Microsoft Theater L.A. Live 777 Chick Hearn Court microsofttheater.com L.A.’s Largest Mixer Join Los Angeles County chambers and business organizations plus hundreds of exhibitors for the ultimate business networking event • 5pm–9pm $20 (Parking $7) Shrine Auditorium Expo Center • 700 W 32nd St lamixer.com

Friday, July 17 In Concert: Earth, Wind & Fire and Chicago 7:30pm • $44.50–$135 The Forum 3900 W Manchester Blvd Inglewood fabulousforum.com In Concert: Jamie Grace “The Fighter Tour” 5pm–9pm • $20–$35 Contact: Good Eye Mgmt goodeyemanagement.com

ing Frankie Beverly & Toni Braxton 8pm • $50–$125 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court axs.com

Saturday, July 18 “Step Into His Glory” Musical Concert Featuring Nawannia Lyles, Calvin Rhone & more • $10 • 5pm–7pm Saints of Value Ministries 8348 2nd St • Downey Contact: 562.864.4474 On Stage: “The Soul Café” (Through July 19) Starring Loretta Devine, Kelly Price, Ernest L. Thomas and Pastor Sherman Gordon Saturday: 8pm; Sunday: 6pm • $40–$45 The Wilshire Ebell 4401 West 8th St ebellla.org Psalms Gospel Café Summer Festival Featuring Food, Vendors, Gospel music, spoken word and kid’s corner 10am–6pm • Free New Hope Baptist Church 5200 S. Central Ave

Contact: (323) 232-4326 The Art of Rap Festival Featuring The Game, Ice T, Kurtis Blow, Slick Rick, Bone Thugs ‘N’ Harmony and more 3pm • $25–$275 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater 8808 Irvine Center Dr Irvine • artofrapfest.com

Sunday, July 19 Long Beach Gospel Fest Featuring Tosha Cobbs, Deitrick Haddon, Jessica Reedy, Myron Butler, Brian Courtney Hosted by Pastor Wayne and First Lady Myesha Chaney • 12:30pm–7pm General Admission: Free Gold Experience: $50 Marina Green 386 E. Shoreline Dr longbeachgospelfest.com In Concert: J Cole featuring Big Sean With special guests YG, Jeremiah, Bas, Cozz and Omen • 7pm $30.75–$70.75 Staples Center 1111 S. Figueroa St staplescenter.com

56th Annual Christmas In July Fundraising Concert Host: Kim Coles 4pm–9pm $60 or $120 per couple Ontario Airport Hotel 700 N. Haven Ave.

Saturday, July 25 In Concert: K.C. & The Sunshine Band 7pm–8:30pm • Free Burton Chace Park Marina Del Rey 13650 Mindanao Way Contact: (310) 305-9545 National Dance Day Celebration Salsa, hip-hop, lyrical, afro-cuban, and modern dance styles taught by Lula Washington Dance Theatre, Contra-Tiempo & Culture Shock LA •10am Free • The Music Center Plaza • musiccenter.org Central Avenue Jazz Festival Jazz performances, Ethnic cuisine and arts • Free Sat: 11am–7pm • Sun: Noon–7:30pm Central Ave between 42nd

& 43rd St (In front of the historic Dunbar Hotel) Info: (213) 202-5500 First AME Church of L.A Presents “The Sing ‘n’ Sync Show” 3pm–5:30pm • Free FAME Church 2270 S. Harvard Blvd.

Info: (323) 730-7750 Faith Initiative to Abolish Trafficking Sponsored by CARE 18 LA 10:00am–12:30pm • Free care18.org

Actress Ja’net Du Bois, Ayuko Babu & Executive Director PAFF attend the Africa Movie Academy Awards (Photo: Arnold Turner - Invision/AP).

In Concert: Vanessa L. Williams 7pm–8:30pm Free • Burton Chace Park Marina Del Rey 13650 Mindanao Way Contact: (310) 305-9545

Saturday, August 1

People For Community Improvement 6th Annual Walk For Life 2.4 mile walk plus health fair & entertainment 9am-1pm Earvin Magic Johnson Park 905 E. El Segundo Blvd Info: (323) 303-3339

Wednesday, July 29

Sunday, August 2

FICWFM Family Fun Day Carnival & Concert Performers include Rebecca Crews and Tye Tribbett • Free Carnival: 10am–4pm Concert: 7:30pm–10pm

d actress Zendaya Singer Mary J. Blige an at the LadyLike Coleman pose together n of Excellence me Wo l Foundation 7th Annua event held at Luxe Hotel

In Concert: Aretha Franklin 8pm $49.95, $89.95, $125 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court microsofttheater.com

Zoe Saldana attends the 2015 Los Angeles Film Festival Premiere of 'Infinitely Polar Bear' at Regal Cinemas

L.A. Focus/July 2015

y attends or Ava DuVerna Lucy “Selma” Direct l 2015 Crysta + Women In Film Awards

Thursday, July 30

Nappywood: Los Angeles Natural Hair & Lifestyle Expo (Through Sunday) Free consultations, tips and demo, workshops, panels & a competition The Reef/Magic Box (L.A. Mart) 1933 S. Broadway St $12–$45 Contact:

around los angeles

In Concert: Maze featur-

The Faithdome – Crenshaw Christian Center 7901 S Vermont Ave www.ficwfm.org

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Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:30 PM Page 18

Re d Carpet Style

NiColE Ari PArkEr & boriS kodjoE the couple matched in black & white

Red Carpet Hits by Tatiana Rivera The 2015 BET Awards rocked the Shrine Auditorium but not before stars strutted across the red carpet.

gAbriElE uNioN

jANEllE moNAE

the “Being Mary Jane” star slayed in a metallic black halter gown

the singer, known for her unique style, wore a black cape dress

kEllY roWlANd the singer rocked a black feathered dress

NiCki miNAj the popstar looked edgy in a black lace gown

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:31 PM Page 19

Eye On Gospel Tamela Mann Makes Radio History Grammy nominated gospel recording artist Tamela Mann recently made radio history becoming the first Gospel lead artist in Billboard Gospel Radio chart history to score three consecutive No. 1's from an album. Her current single, "This Place," is the third song to ascend to No. 1 from her CD, Best Days. The album's previous No. 1 chart toppers are "Take Me To The King," written by Gospel icon Kirk Franklin and "I Can Only Imagine."

The RIAA certified gold Best Days bowed at the top of numerous Billboard album sales charts in August 2012 and has sold more than 500,000 copies.

"What an incredible blessing. So many radio stations and fans have been a part of this journey. I'm so grateful and thankful to them all," said Tamela. "This is truly an honor, and a wonderful gift to receive on my birthday!"

Making radio history wasn’t the only big news for Tamela as the ratings for her new Bounce TV series are in. Turns out the first season of the original series, Mann & Wife —starring Tamela David and Tamela Mann

Mann—delivered more than 5.7 million viewers and 3.7 million homes in its first season.

Fact is, after debuting on April 7, the show swiftly became the network's most-watched original series ever, with premiere episodes outperforming the previous fourweek time period average by +77% in AA HHs, +102% in P2+, +98% A25-54 and +158% A18-49. Given its success, Bounce TV has renewed Mann & Wife for a second season, which will debut in the spring of 2016.

Real-life husband and wife team David Mann (House of Payne, Meet The Browns) and Tamela Mann (Madea's Big Happy Family, Sparkle) star and serve as executive producers of Mann & Wife. The half-hour situation comedy follows the newlywed, second-chance sweethearts as they laugh and love their way through the ups and downs of life as a blended family, each with two children from previous marriages. Supporting cast members include Vivica A. Fox, Tony Rock, JoMarie Payton.

Tina Campbell Gets Personal Gospel recording artist Tina Campbell is laying it all bare with her new book, I Need To Pray, and new CD, It’s Personal. In it, the Grammy-winning singer confesses that God delivered her from wanting to die, kill her children and her husband.

It was perhaps the darkest time in her life for the 41year old mother of three who in 2013 was dealing with depression after coming face to face with infidelity in her marriage "I've been saved all my life and a representative of the Gospel could get so low that I wanted to die, kill my children, kill my husband and kill everybody, and go out with a bang, because life was that bad. But that's exactly where I was in 2013, and God alone saved my life," said Campbell, who hopes her testimony will help others.

"Part of my testimony, my willingness to speak about the difficult times, comes from the joy I have in the knowledge that it was God who saved me. I want to let those feeling as low as I once did know that if He brought

me through, He will bring you through!

Chart Moves Brian Courtney Wilson has landed a Top 5 single on both Billboard and Mediabase Gospel radio charts with his current hit "Worth Fighting For." The title track from Wilson's current album was released earlier this year and is a soulful expression of the Stellar award winning artist’s joy and love highlighted by his signature and melodic tenor touching a chord with audiences because of its timely message. Wilson is set to launch a national campaign, #WeAreWorthFightingFor in an effort to unify communities to speak encouragement, victory and power to young people around the country… Grammy Awardwinning songwriter and Inspired People recording artist Pastor Charles Jenkins’ latest radio smash “War” moves from #3 to #2 on this week’s Gospel Airplay chart for the infectious song’s 37th week in the Top 30. Jenkins and his ensemble have been slated to perform the song on BET’s eighth season of the “Sunday Best” singing competition and also on the 35th and final season of the network’s “Bobby Jones Gospel” program.

Briefly: International worship leader and recording artist, Micah Stampley is set to record his live EP/DVD recording on June 26, 2015 in Dallas, Georgia.

Worshippers from near and far will gather at the state of the art, Oasis Family Life Church pastored by Anthony and Christina Murray, for an exciting evening of power and worship as Micah introduces new worship anthems penned by the artist and his wife/co-writer as well as other international writers. In addition, Micah will revamp some of his most well-known praise and worship anthems from his five previous recordings. The five camera live DVD shoot will be directed by multi- award winning director and actress, Kim Fields. This is the first phase of several planned projects that Micah and Heidi Stampley are working on to expand their company's influence in the entertainment industry at large.

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:31 PM Page 20

ChurchNews McDaniels Leaves Faithful Central; Planting New Church In Fullerton

P

erhaps the biggest news circulating in L.A.’s faith community last month was the departure of Assistant Pastor Sheridan McDaniel from Faithful Central Bible Church to plant his own church in Fullerton.

The first service at A Place For Worship is scheduled for Sunday, August 2 at the site of the Hotel Fullerton (1500 S. Pastor Sheridan McDaniel Raymond Avenue) and McDaniel can hardly contain his excitement.

“I’m ready to jump out of my seat. The Lord put it on my heart to raise up a church in Orange County and the anticipation is high. People have been saying we have been praying for you to lead a church again, so I’m just expecting the presence of God to come in and meet the people’s needs. Fullerton just happens to be the city, but our focus is to raise up a ministry that will impact L.A. county and the Inland empire.”

Though McDaniels describes his three years at Faithful Central as fulfilling, he says God put the word in his heart to begin a ministry.

“I actually received the word in Orange County while I was at a wedding and there were several confirmations coming to me through different conversations.”

Didn’t hurt that his new location just happens to be five minutes away from his home in Orange County.

It will not be the first church McDaniels has planted.

In 1992, he established Worship Center Community Church, where he would go on to pastor for 20 years until being asked by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer if he would consider assisting him at Faithful Central,—an experience he says has been a blessing.

“I believe the experience at Faithful, the 20 years of pastoring and serving under Bishop Ulmer, I know it has prepared me for this next journey in a great way as far as knowledge on what to do, how to lay it out, vision and foresight and having some one I can always reach out to for guidance in Bishop Ulmer. I feel much more prepared this time in going forth.

Of the speculation surrounding his departure, McDaniels says, “The main thing we heard was mixed emotions of us leaving. We’re happy for you but we’re sad.

I haven’t heard anything negative and I thank God for that.. I don't think I was there long enough to build anything negative. Three years was good because it showed who I am and where my passion is.”

L.A. Focus/July 2015

Pastor Wins Seat On Carson City Council With 36.2 percent of the vote, Pastor Jawane Hilton (City On the Hill Church) defeated five other candidates to win an open seat on Carson’s city council. Hilton, who has been a Carson resident since he was 11, said it was time for a change in Carson and believes the church should be on the front line of that change.

“I want to bring integrity back to the city. My plan is make sure that there’s more transparency in government. For some time, residents haven’t known what’s going on. The average city council meeting lasts from 5PM until 1:30am in the morning, so they are passing things that would affect residents who are at home sleep in the middle of the night.

“The city has been divided for far too long. You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people.”

Hilton will serve out the term former Councilman Mike Gipson vacated through March 2017.

Congratulations to Bishop Joe Ealy on the 50th anniversary of Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ. Ealy founded the Long-Beach basedHilton church in Pastor Jawane 1965 and has faithfully served as pastor for 50 years.

He is a dedicated member of the Long Beach Ministers Alliance and serves as the Jurisdictional Prelate for the largest church of God in Christ jurisdiction in California with 250 plus churches in his Jurisdiction.

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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

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

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

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

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

Lewis Metropolitan CME Church 4900 S. Western Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 292-0179 Pastor & Presiding Elder Wendell M. Oldham Jr. Sunday School: 9am Morning Worship: 10:30am Wednesday Bible Study: 7pm Wed. Youth & Young Bible Study: 7pm Ministry to Men (3rd Sat.): Noon - 1pm Ministry to Women (3rd Sat.) Older/ 11:30am 1:30pm & Younger/ 2pm - 3:30pm

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

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.

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 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

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

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 Macedonia Baptist Church of Los Angeles 1751 East 114th Street Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 569-9561 • Macedonia.baptist114@gmail.com Pastor Shane B. Scott Morning Worship: 10am Sunday Small Group: 8:45am Tues. Mid-Day Bible Study: 11am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: 6:30pm www.macedonia-la.org 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

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:31 PM Page 21

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

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

F: (323) 291-1133 • msmbc-la.org • mt.sinai@msmbc-la.org Pastor George E. Hurtt, Pastor-Teacher Sunday Worship: 8am, 10am Noonday Worship (1st Sun): Noon Sunday School: 8am, 10am Noonday Prayer (Mon): Noon Noonday Bible Study (Tues): Noon Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm 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

One Church International 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.onechurchla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts Sunday Worship: 9am, 11am & 1pm Wednesday Midweek Service: 8pm www.Channel1Live.tv—View live streaming

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

first lady files First lady Norma Fisher came of age in an era when everybody wore suits, hats and gloves to church. So when she married the late Rev. Jerome Fisher (who established Compton’s first black church back in 1954) and became first lady of Little Zion Baptist Church in 1986, she had to fit in.

“It was a completely different role. Everybody calls it first lady but I call it the lead lady, the lady that everybody watches,” said the Joplin Missouri native who grew up an active member in church. “My husband used to say that you really have to be called for that job. A real first lady has to be called.”

Now called Greater Zion Church Family, her son Dr. Michael J.T. Fisher has been pastoring the church since 2005.

“At the time we didn't really know that he would be the one to take over the church. god was just in the plan in order for him to take over Greater Zion We’re proud of what he’s doing and what he’s accomplished as a pastor.”

A member of The Interdenominational Ministers’ Wives and Widows of Los Angeles and the Gardena Valley Minister’s Wives and Widows organization and a minister herself, Mrs. Fisher feels her greatest lesson as a first lady is to be seen but not always heard.

“As first ladies we have to have a humble spirit. In God’s own time he will elevate you to where he wants you to be.”

“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: 7:45pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

People’s Independent Church of Christ 5856 West Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90043 • (323) 296-5776 Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Sr. Pastor

New Antioch Church of God in Christ 7826 So. Vermont Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90044 (323) 778-7965 Elder Jeffrey M. Lewis

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

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

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

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

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)

Salem Missionary Baptist Church 729 S. Park View St. Los Angeles, CA 90057 (213) 738-1077 • jrwilliams57@peoplepc.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 • E: 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”

L.A. Focus/July 2015

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

Morning Worship: 8am Church School Hour: 10:15am Tuesday Hour of Power: 7pm www.thechurchstop.org E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com

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.

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

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Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:31 PM Page 22

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

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

In Altadena

Abundant Harvest Christian Center (Alta) 2387 N. Lake Ave, Altadena, CA 91001 (LA) 8400 Gregory Way, Beverly Hills 90211 (off La Cienega) (626) 797-6056 • www.abundantharvest.info Drs. Anthony & Micheline McFarland

Sunday Worship: 10am Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm

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

Sunday Worship Services: (Altadena) 9:30am (LA/Beverly Hills) 11:30am Bible Study Tuesdays: 7:30pm (Altadena) Our heart is to take back the family and see people's lives changed for the glory of God

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr

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

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

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

www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org

“We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6

True Way Full Gospel Church 326 East 47th Place Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-4298 Pastor Aaron Millsap

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

Worship Service: 11:30am & 5pm Prayer Night Tuesday: 7pm Bible Study Wednesday: 7pm

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 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 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

truewayfullgospel@gmail.com

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

Pastor Profile: Pastor Marcus Murchinson • Tree Of Life MBC At 30 years old, you would be considered a young preacher, how early were you called?

When I was 12 years old. I was a different kid. I come from a very strict religious family and I picked up religion early. I just had a yearning for the scriptures and I was already actively involved in my small church. My nickname was preacher boy.

Everybody called me preacher boy. I wasn’t good in sports but I loved the bible and I loved the stories.

So I knew that was my calling.

I was instructed to take classes. I attended a seminary when I was 12 years old and I was licensed and ordained at twelve as well. I preached my first sermon maybe six months later. I also spent a lot of time speaking when the opportunities came and I traveled [to speak] while I was in high school.

L.A. Focus/July 2015

Did anyone oppose your preaching being so young?

I told my grandmother first but she didn’t

22

Name: Marcus Murchinson Church: Tree Of Life Missionary Baptist Church in Los Angeles Hometown: Portland Oregon Education: Majored in African Studies and Sociology Family: Single

believe me. In fact, to this day, she will not come and listen to me preach. She just doesn’t believe that it is legitimate. It almost discouraged me, but my mother was a strong supporter of mine, and she told me what the truth is: If I believe that God is calling me to preach, it’s not my grandmother who I’m going to have to answer to.

What did you do until you were called to pastor Tree of Life?

After high school I went on to college. I’m a graduate of SANU. After college I went to the navy to pay off student loans. After the navy I was stationed overseas and I returned to San Diego. Once I got out of the navy I didn’t want to go back to Portland, so I stayed took a job here in L.A. preaching.

I started a church from the ground up with 6 members and it grew to about 100. We were in the process of buying a building when the individual that was going to sell us the building died. When she died, the property reverted to her son, who pushed the price to about $90,000 more than we could afford. As it happens, Tree of Life was looking for a pastor, I applied and I got called to serve. So I took my church and merged it into Tree of Life. So now Tree of Life has on the roster about 250 members. This was May of 2014. About one year ago. This month we are celebrating as a church our 50th anniversary.

What were the main challenges of blending two churches?

Some of the basic challenge is blending two cultures—two cultures of people coming together and trying to get them to be focused on one main goal.

You grew up Apostolic, why did you turn to Baptist preaching?

When I was 26 years old I decided to turn to the Baptist church. I just agreed with the Baptist doctrine a lot more than I did with the Apostolic doctrine.

What is your preaching style?

I would say that when somebody leaves our services, I want them to have left feeling like they had an empowerment encounter. There’s a certain level of confidence that I want them to experience, primarily, because my discipline in school was African studies major and sociology, I take an African American perspective to the scriptures. One thing that I want people to be aware of is the history and then understanding the history through a voice of theology.

What are your strengths?

Probably my perseverance and optimism. After the navy I worked for the department of correction for a little while. I was a correctional officer and a parole officer for a year and a half. It taught what you really need in life. A lot of things we think we need and then it comes down to the basic necessities, the basic things of life. Truth is, you need less than you want.

What was a turning point in your life?

When I was homeless in 2008. I had a home, and it went into foreclosure, and I ended up homeless because I didn’t want to go home to my mother. I wanted to try to be a man and figure this thing out, so I was living out of my car for about a month, and then I went into the navy.

Are you married?

Not married and no children. I got 13 fish though.

Focus 7.15_Focus 7-04 7/6/15 2:31 PM Page 23

From The Pulpit: of West Angeles Church

A

young man by the name of Dylann Roof walked into Emanuel Baptist Church; sat in their mid-week Bible study for an hour as they prayed and read the word, then he pulled out a Glock pistol and shot nine people to death.

We decry the violence, hatred and the prejudice that motivated such an act. Our hearts are heavy and after so long, we still have not really, as a nation, grasped the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who teaches us to love more than hate and to lift, rather than destroy.

How well I remember in 1962, I’d just graduated from college and travelled to Atlanta Georgia to enroll in the interdenominational theological center where I received my master’s degree in theology and divinity. In the south, schools, churches, restaurants, hotels, public transportation and almost everything else was pervaded by illegal and forced segregation.

Blacks were brutalized, murd e r e d , imprisoned, impover-

bishop Charles blake

ished and deprived. Attempts were made to dehumanize blacks in every way that the society could. Our women were disrespected and raped with impunity.

We had a clearly definable commonly recognized enemy in racism. Racism blocked our way to any tolerable existence in this nation and we reached the point where we could not and would not take it anymore. Our common agony, our common plight, our common misery and common desperation cried out for a common unity, common ethnicity, common strategy and the common leadership necessary to bring about change. The result was a civil rights movement.

The high point of the civil rights movement was the historic March on Washington in 1963. After that Congress passed the voting rights act and various civil rights acts. Many felt the vision had been accomplished and the job was done, but I’m inclined to say that the vast majority of the casualties in the black communities have occurred since the end of the civil rights movement as several growing dark clouds have appeared on the horizon.

Only 18% of African Americans graduate from college compared to 30% of whites. Almost 25% of blacks live at or below the poverty level, while only 10% of whites do so.

Strong family units are in several vital ways essential to economic success. We need strong family units to become strong, but black families are less likely to contain a married couple than all other groups in the U.S. 46% of blacks are in

family units,—81% for whites.

A black man is seven times more likely to go to jail as a white man. Black men who only represent the 14% of the population represent 50% of the prison population.

White males are likely to live more than five years longer than black males.

We are still the poorest and the sickest and the first to die. 25% are more likely to die of cancer, twice likely to die of diabetes.

Half of all AIDS cases are black. 50% of all AIDS deaths are black.

For young black men, black on black homicide or murder is the leading cause of death and in many black communities, the unemployment rate is as high as 50%.

As I travel across America, I see other racial groups doing the work we used to do and I know it’s not because all of us have been promoted to higher paid white-collar jobs.

I read an article in the Wall Street Journal quite some time ago in which the writer, Harvard professor James Q. Wilson said— without fear of contradiction—that blacks constitute the core of America’s crime problem. Then he said blacks were disproportionately likely to commit crime, so, for many, we are not just a problem, we are actually a threat, and the implications of this line of reasoning ought to be apparent to all of us.

In so many ways, we were better off prior to the civil rights movement than we are now. In those days, the negative forces that existed forced blacks to unify around the creation and support among the institutions that enabled us to function and

survive—our churches, our black insurance companies, our banks, our historic black colleges, various kind of businesses —and so to flourish and effectively pursue the advance even under those negative circumstances. But I suppose the greatest loss of the post-civil rights period was the loss of our collective vision. Our failure to recognize and pursue our destiny and a broader vision may be a reason for much of our present despair and downward drifting.

When a people lose a sense of their destiny and a people lose their sense of vision and purpose, they will lose almost everything else. Almost everywhere you look, you find African people of decent who are the poorest and most malnourished, most unemployed, most uneducated, most depressed and that exist at the bottom of the social strata.

This is an indirect result of slavery, colonialism and Neo-colonialism, corporate colonialism, racism and discrimination, but it’s also a result of our lack of a sense of meaningful identity, purpose, destiny and vision.

When a people find something worth working for, they become people of purpose. When they find purpose they find meaning, and when they find meaning they find significance, and when they find significance, they find a reason to discipline themselves morally, ethically and spiritually. And when significant disciplined people come together —bringing their whole being into conformity with their purpose and vision, then that people Pulpit continued on page 24

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

Holy Chapel Baptist Church 1016 East Rosecrans Ave. Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 Rev. George L. Thomas

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday Morning Worship: 9am, 11am & 5pm Wed. Bible Studies: Noon-7pm

Sunday Morning Worship: 8am & 11am 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

Sunday G.I.R. Up Leadership Class: 8am Morning Worship Tuesday: 10am Teaching Empowerment Night: 7:30pm

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

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

In Hawthorne

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

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

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

Early Worship: 8:30am Morning Worship: 11am Children’s Church: Both Services Word Power Wed.: 7-8pm

In Gardena

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

In Inglewood L.A. Focus/July 2015

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

www.greaterzionchurchfamily.com

The Liberty Church 14725 S. Gramercy Place, Gardena, CA 90249 (310) 715-8400 Pastor David W. Cross

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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

Strait-Way Church 102 E. Kelso St., Inglewood, CA 90301 • (310) 412-7475 Bishop Charles C. Queen Sunday School: 9am Early Hebrew Studies: 9am Morning Worship: 10am • Evening Worship: 5pm • Intercessory Prayer (Tues.): 5:45pm Bible Study (Tues.): 6:45pm Bible Study (Wed.): Noon Radio Broadcast (Daily): 10:30-10:45am

KTYM 1460AM Crusade Christian Faith Center 801 S. La Brea Avenue, Inglewood, CA 90301 (310) 330-8535 Bishop Virgil D. Patterson Sr.

Antioch Church of Long Beach 1535 Gundry Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 591-8778 • F: (562) 599-6048 Pastor Wayne Chaney Jr.

First Church of God Center of Hope 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 • (323) 757-1804 Pastor Geremy L. Dixon

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

L.A. Focus/July 2015

24

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

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

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: 9am Sunday Worship: 10am Tuesday Bible Study: 7pm Mid-day Worship Thursday: Noon www.bethlehemcoch.org

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 15055 Oxnard St. Van Nuys, CA 91411 (818) 923-5805 • Facebook.com/spiritofzionfc Pastor E.V. Hill II

Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship Service: 9:40am Wed. Bible Study: 7pm Wed Youth & Young Adult Ministry: 7pm

Morning Worship: 8am & 11am Wed. Mid-Week Service: Noon Wed. Teaching Ministry: 7pm 1st Sunday Communion 5th Sunday Baptism

affect the price.” Okoya said.

The Queens of Africa dolls are now available online for $28-$30 plus $5 for shipping—and sell out fast. According to Okoya, his greatest demand comes

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

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

Sunday School: 9:30am Early Worship: 8am Morning Worship: 10:45am Bible Adventure Hour (Tues): 6pm Bible Study (Tues): 7pm Bible Study (Thurs): Noon

Money Matters continued from page 18

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.

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 & Mondays at 7pm

In Irvine

True Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 7901 South Van Ness Ave. Inglewood, CA 90305 (323) 750-7304 Rev. James A. Perkins

But this isn’t that simple. This is about privilege, deceitful performance and a tortured attempt to avoid truth and confession by co-opting the language of struggle, infusing labyrinthine logic with authority of the academy, and coat-tailing very real struggles…

Blow continued, “We have been distracted from real conversations about real things in order to try to contextualize false life based on a false premise.

“For a moment, blackface seemed to matter more than actual black lives.”

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

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

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

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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"

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

from Brazil, Europe and the U.S. His company also produces books, comics, music and an animation series.

Okoya believes, Queens of Africa dolls have a lot of ground to cover as there are many store shelves that are still filled with white dolls, which means they are still in high demand; although the task ahead is huge, Okoya is prepared for the challenge.

Right now, Queens of Africa dolls are only sold online, but Okoya, who has been featured in Elle Magazine, NPR and Reuters is working to help his dolls make it to store shelves in the U.S. “My mission is to make the Queens of Africa a symbol of hope, trust, and confidence by promoting African history, culture, and fashion,” he said.

For more information, log into www.queensofafricadolls.com.

In Van Nuys

Sunday Worship: 12:45pm Children's Church: 1pm

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

Pulpit continued from page 23

will find greatness, prosperity and success and then that people will find any goal that they will set, they can do anything.

God says when people come together in true unity, they can accomplish anything they imagine and so people of the lord, we must not look to others to heal our wounds. We cannot defer while we wait on and plead with others to begin loving us.

We’ve got to love ourselves enough to take charge of our own destiny.

No matter how benevolent any U.S. government or any other major government in the world may become, we will never become first priority of any major government, even if it’s a black president.

It’s only when we will become the first priority in our own minds that we will make significant progress as a people.

Proverbs 29:18 says, where there is no vision, the people perish. This means that visions keep people alive. Anything that will prevent the destruction of life or the destruction of quality of life ought to be of great interest to all of us. We need vision.

Jesus said to John, Come up higher and I will show you things to come, but I can’t show it to you until you come up higher.

Child of God, if you cannot see to see where you are, then that means you need to come on up a little higher. The lord is saying the things I want to show you can only be shown when you come up higher, morally; when you come up higher spiritually; and when you come up higher in your commitment unto me.

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Bonnie Tann

T

he word is out. The Bonnie B Bakery may have only opened two months ago, but already people are making a beeline to the shop located on Slauson near Overhill generating lines at its busiest hours.

Little wonder. The peach cobbler and Lemon Twist (a baked lemon cake topped with a crispy coating of glaze to resemble a doughnut) are to die for, while the buzz surrounding their pot pies, quiche and mouthwatering breakfast toast—a wonderful delicacy made of three different dough, bell pepper, cheese and filled with ham, cheese and bacon—keeps people coming back for more.

“We call it breakfast toast, but it should have the name dinner toast because we make it all day long. For breakfast we add a little egg wash and then we make it again for lunch and we make it again for dinner.”

That’s just some of the favorites. Truth is, depending on your taste buds, the menu is chock load of favorites from Bonnie Tann who, graduated from USC with a masters in executive leader-

Smartphones continued from page 7

L.A. Focus/July 2015

reform ourselves, which means from the police chiefs and on down – citizens recording officers in their day-to-day operations is not really going to have much of an huge impact in terms of changing the culture. The culture of policing has to change within. Everyone in law enforcement has to buy into wanting change.”

Cell phone footage made all the difference, explained Harris, the attorney involved in the Raymond Johnson case— the Moreno Valley man, who in 2013, died in police custody following a confrontation with several Moreno Valley Police officers.

The problem started after employees at a local Burger King called 911 to report strange behavior by Johnson, 41, in the restaurant’s drive-through.

Witnesses said Johnson was foaming at the mouth, flailing his arms and violently kicking and punching inside his vehicle. Base on Johnson size, officers who first arrived on the scene called for backup to handle the situation.

“The police kicked out the window to drag him out the car,” Harris said. “They doused him with pepper spray. They kicked him and another office jumped on the hood of the car and kicked out the windshield and began kicking the gentleman in the head. By the time they removed him from the car, he was dead.”

Meanwhile, the meeting reached a fever pitch when Tritobia Ford, mother of Ezell Ford lashed out at law enforcement officials on the panel and accused LAPD of harassing her family since her son’s death.

“The LAPD followed one of my other son’s to my house and pulled him over

26

ship and worked as a registered nurse for 18 years prior to opening up her own bakery.

“I would have never believed that our biggest seller would be chicken pot pies. We make our own flakey crust, it is fabulous and it is what draws people to it. And everything in the chicken pot pie is fresh, we chop up our own carrots, onions, peas,” said the mother of two who has always had a passion for baking.

“A lot of my recipe are from my grandmother and my mother who taught me how to bake them.”

Tann, who hired world-renowned pastry chef Marda Stoliar to learn the ins and outs of owning and operating a successful bakery, is ecstatic to be doing for a living what she grew up passinate about: testing and perfecting new recipes.

“It’s wonderful, I am working 15 hours a day but I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

Bonnie B Bakery is located on 4442 W Slauson Ave in Los Angeles. For more information, call (323) 298-4553

for allegedly driving without a license.

They illegally searched my son’s car for about 30 minutes.

So I got on the phone and called my lawyer, who reported the traffic stop to the precincts commanding officer. But this only made matters worse, because the police then came into my house and started searching my place without a warrant.

“Mind you, they never gave my son a ticket for allegedly driving without a license.”

Congresswoman Waters said, “Everybody in the community knew who Ezell Ford was except the police who shot him down.”

Civil rights attorney Connie Rice, who worked with former and current LAPD chiefs Bill Bratton and Charlie Beck to reform the occupying-army model of policing, said she interviewed hundreds of officers several years ago and asked them what it meant to get assigned to South L.A. “They said, ‘that means it’s stick time; we get to use our batons. Down there, you get a righteous shoot.”

She noted that white, Latino, black and Asian officers expressed the same sentiment, and said they felt even more emboldened in the housing projects because “crime is off the charts there,” which means disorderly behavior from officers often goes unchecked.

“The po po (street term for police) have been terrorizing the hood for years” said Anthony Watson aka One, a local San Fernando Valley rapper. “Way before Rodney King’s beating made news” Watson added, “when we tried to tell people about these kinds abuses going on in neighborhoods, people thought we were making it up.

“Hopefully now they know.”

Spiced Carro t Cake

1 1/4 cups oi l 2 cups unbl eached all p urpose flou 1/4 tsp grou r nd ginger 1/4 tsp oran ge zest 1 tsp bakin g soda 4 eggs 1/2 cup curr ants or rais ins 2 cups suga r 1 tsp Cinnam on 1 small piece (candied) G inger 1 tsp Nutm eg 1 tsp Pump kin Spice 1 tbsp Bakin g powder 1 1/2 tsp sa lt 7-8 large ca rrots

Using a food processor gr ind the carr lized ginger ots with the and set asid crystale.

In a medium bowl, whisk together you orange zest r flour, salt, , baking pow spices, der, baking soda and cu rrants.

In a larger bowl, whisk the oil and minute sugar togeth er for a Whisk the one egg into the oil mixtu third of the re, followed flour by a Add another egg, and then and continu another thir e alternatin d of the flou g, mixing w r each additio ell after n Fold in the carr Spoon or pou ots and mix until just combined r into an 8" cake pan an until the ce d bake at 32 nter comes 5 out just clea n

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Finding Your Pretty with Chez Weight loss … the struggle that we all despise. It doesn’t matter if you are five pounds overweight, 500 pounds overweight, or just not comfortable with how you look in your clothes, most of us are Chez’Ney Hadley always in a Staff Writer Never ending “battle of the bulge”. From fad diets, like the Cookie Diet, Atkins to a full lifestyle change like going vegan or staying Gluten free or the good ol’ eat right and exercise, that sounds so practical but is easier said than done, time after time we try, and most of us fail.

To my devastated surprise, I have gained almost 30 lbs in the last five years.

I’ll admit I was living in a fool’s paradise, ignoring my muffin top and food baby.

Thinking, “oh, that’s not back fat that I see in the mirror there, that’s just me twisting. It’s sure to go away when I’m standing straight.”

No, it was 30 lbs of hot wings, French fries, pizza and ice cream that was stuck to my back, belly, and sides. So I made a decision to take action before this

whole weight thing gets out of hand.

I made a call to Harbor Comprehensive Health, a clinic that specializes in chiropractics as well as weight management. I told them that this was an urgent matter and I must be seen at once. The following morning I met with a lovely women by the name of Joy, filled out paper work and asked a boatload of questions which Joy didn’t mind answering. She explained that at their clinic they have different programs depending on your current weight, body structure, and goal weight. HCG is for those who are significantly over their ideal weight and for folks like me that are just a few pounds overweight they prescribe appetite suppressants along with lipo injections and a strict diet plan that you must follow to the “T” which, I was kind of skeptical about until she told me she has a patient that lost seven pounds in three days. After hearing that I almost snatched the diet plan out of her hand.

Needless to say I am now on a weight loss program at Harbor Comprehensive Health Clinic (see page 19 for their ad). I started on June 23rd and as I’m writing this column I’ve already lost ten pounds.

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GRAY HAIR The newest, hottest, weirdest trend right now is “granny hair”.

Everybody from Rihanna to Nicole Richie seems to be on a gray craze lately. Is it just a new fashion trend or does it have an underlying message telling us to embrace aging and reminding us that growing old and grey is a beautiful blessing?

So Who Does Your Hair...

Candice Walker

It’s great prices, compliments, and excellent work that has kept Candice Walker coming back to hairstylist Arnita Welcome for over ten years. That’s not the only reason.

“She helped to bring my hair back to life after it had been damaged.” The other thing I like about Arnita is that I can explain a style to her and she always does a great job, like the stylish side ponytail that I got a lot of compliments on.

She always goes above and beyond my expectations and my hair lasts for a long time and has great prices. Plus she is very professional yet makes me feel like I’m family. She’s the Best!”

Arnita Welcome has been a licensed hair stylist for 17 years and operates out of the Inglewood-based O My Hair Salon.

“I've always had a passion for hair for as long as I could remember.” Says the happily

married mother of a young daughter. ”So after I graduated high school it was a no-brainer what the next step would be! So, I dedicated myself to it!” Specializing in weaves as well as press & curls, Welcome is sensitive to people using too much heat on their hair.

“Not only do I want to see a clients hair grow healthier, I want to transform them and unleash their full beauty, making them feel better about themselves walking out than they did walking in.”

“Come let me unleash your Beauty!”

Arnita’s Hair Care Tip: Never press dirty hair it will cause breakage. Also in the winter your hair is at it's driest so make sure u moisturize!

Arnita’s Must Have Product: My Motions Leave In Conditioner a must have!

P r i c e Range: $60 and up, this price would consist of shampoo, conditioning, press and curl.

Wait Time: I am a stylist at O My Hair Studio. Depends on the service, but at least two hours.

Arnita

Salon Address: O My Hair Studio 8636 S. Sepulveda Blvd #C Westchester CA 90045.

Contact: (310) 420-8535

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L.A. Focus/July 2015

(310) 677-6011

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SavingGrace

L.A. Focus/July 2015

A

30

Sheila E

fter nearly four decades in the music industry, Emmy and Grammy Award nominee Sheila E has published “The Beat of My Own Drum”, a tell all memoir, chock full of her experiences as one of the most recognized female drummers in the world.

From touring with Marvin Gaye on his final world tour, to meeting Prince at one of her concerts, to their subsequent romance and enduring friendship, Sheila E vividly describes her journey through five decades of pop music and how she developed a love for the gospel.

“At first, what I wanted to talk about was music, family, spirituality and to share my testimony. And then I realized that there was much more for me to share,” she said.

The juicy memoir includes details on her romance with Carlos Santana and describes why her niece, designer Nicole Ritchie, was adopted by Lionel Ritchie and his wife.

“It’s been selling out,” she said. “A half a million people have responded.

And it’s been so positive.”

What’s more, reminiscing of her collaborations with the likes of George Duke, Ringo Starr, Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Kanye West (just to name a few) while writing the book, inspired her to release her first CD in 13 years, “Icon.”

“When I first started writing the book, I started to hear music and that's how the CD came about as well. I realized the stories that I was telling are songs that I would have written.”

As if she didn’t have enough on her plate, early this year Sheila E opened a nightclub, The E Spot, in the San Fernando Valley and it has brought its share of challenges.

“We're a venue that brings artists. There’s lot of great talent in L.A. and we’re doing okay, but we’ve been fighting to stay alive since we opened, because the business owner next door wants to close us down. I told him he’s messing with the wrong Christian.”

The Oakland native— one of four born to famed percussionist, Pete Escovedo, was exposed to instruments at an early age. By age five, she had picked up the drums and by age 15, she had played in a venue full of thousands.

“My dad was playing a concert and when his percussionist got sick, I asked him if I could play,” she recalls. “They were a famous band and were playing with Stevie Wonder, The Temptations Earth Wind and Fire, so it was a big deal. My mom and I convinced him to let me play and once I played that show, I knew I wanted to be a musician.

Two weeks later I went out on tour

and never turned back.”

Sheila was living a life of a rock star, but as she matured she realized it was not the life she wanted, and as the late Maya Angelou said, “When you know better, you do better.”

But it would take a near death experience in 1990 for her to see that God had a bigger plan for her life.

“When I joined Prince’s band there were a lot of things I'd done and I didn't find pleasure in doing them anymore. It was just the lifestyle,” she says, reflectively. “It was my getting older and figuring out who I wanted to be. I’d always known that I was here for a reason.”

“I had just come from Japan, experiencing the usual stress and I decided to go see an acupuncturist," she recounts. “I was having problems with my neck and back. I always had some problems from playing in high heels for four years in Prince's band. I played wrong. My technique is really just for show. While receiving treatment from the acupuncturist, my arm began to tingle. By the time I returned to the hotel, I’d almost passed out in the elevator. I didn’t know what was wrong.

“Aside from my arm tingling, I was experiencing irregular breathing.

This just so happened to be around the time that I was in the process of mastering my fourth record. For the next three days, I walked around not knowing what was wrong with me. I went to the doctor and was told that my lung was collapsed.”

Always one to face challenges head on, the then 32-year old musician challenged doctors point-blank, “am I going to die or can you fix this?’ They told me they could fix it, but that I needed to admit myself to the hospital.

"I was hospitalized for about a week. When I returned home, the medication prescribed by my doctor was making me very sick. I couldn’t eat and was confined to my bed. I was so ill, my cousin had to spoon feed me. It got so bad, my weight dropped down to 87 pounds.

“One of the biggest breakdowns was realizing I was not in control,” Escovedo reveals. “I could barely get up to walk to go to the restroom. I began to pray out of desperation, but things got worse. I said to my cousin, ‘If I die and it looks like I might die, I don’t want to go back to the hospital. I’m just going to stay here and pray. If I’m supposed to live, I’ll live, and if I’m not, I’d rather die here. I don’t want anyone to see me like this.’”

Once she stopped taking the medication, she began to get stronger. After a month and a half—with help—she was finally able to gather the strength to go outside. “I remember crying for two hours,” she notes. “To touch the grass…to look up at the sky, I clearly began to see just what God had given us.”

Sheila had been raised Catholic, but takes great pride in the fact that both her brothers, her sister and her parents are now saved. She is a member of the Inglewood-based, Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Church, pastored by Dr. Beverly "BAM" Crawford, and was even featured on the church choir’s recording debut, “The King Is Coming Any Day.” “I joke with pastor Bam saying that church was my boot camp, because I had given my heart to the Lord early at 18-19 years old, but I didn't understand yet what it was to be a Christian. Later on I decided that I wanted to do better and I rededicated my life to the Lord and realized I could have a personal relationship with the Lord. My journey was slow, but it’s never too late.”

Saving grace for this superstar drummer and entertainer is God’s grace.

“It’s the stuff we go through every single day. It’s got to be your walk,” she explains. “It’s got to be who you are. It’s like saying, my music is who I am as an artist and I live, breath, eat music it feeds me and God’s word feeds me.”

On September 7, the singer will headline one of the biggest concerts of the summer, Nightshift 2015 at the L.A. Coliseum, also starring The Wailers. For more information, call (323) 592-3444.

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