L.A Focus Newspaper November 2019

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CHURCH NEWS: Pastor Reginald Pope to Receive Lifetime Acheivement Award PAGE

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ONE ON ONE: Simone Missick

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GAME CHANGER: The Legacy of Elijah Cummings

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contents

L.A. Focus Publications

November 2019

Left: Publisher Lisa Collins poses with Attorney Kim Talley at the Special Needs Network’s “Evening Under The Stars’; Middle: Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson joined the City of L.A.’s Bureau of Street Services to plant trees along Vernon Ave. and break ground on a $4 million infrastructure project on Western Ave; Middle: Right: Lena Kennedy welcomes keynoter Holly Robinson-Peete to her So Cal Women’s Conference held at the Pasadena Hilton.

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From The Editor Seed On Good Soil

Commentary Will the Supreme Court Decide for Education Freedom

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UpFront Congresswoman Bass Outlines Next Steps in Impreachment Inquiry; California Law Nudges NCAA Into Action On Athlete Pay; Democratic Polls Point to White Candidate as Best Bet for Beating Trump; Inglewood Mayor’s Former Assistant Changes Story To Support Madison Square Garden Allegations

Head to Head War of Words Over Trump’s Lynching Tweet

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Deborah Flint Joins Honeywill Board of Directors; Byron Allen Acquires 11 TV Stations in $290 Million Deal

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

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

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

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

Red Carpet Style Tyler Perry Studios Grand Opening

Hollywood Buzz

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

Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist Church

Kai Chase

Tyler Perry

Cynthia Erivo to Portray Aretha Franklin; Kanye West Releases Gospel Album; Cuba Gooding Turns Himself In to NYPD

One On One Simone Missick

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Church News

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Pastor Profile

The High Cost of “Gray” Divorces

Biz News Briefs

Calendar/Around LA

Kirk Franklin Named Gospel Artist of the year; Anthony Brown Gets Second Wind...

Feature Story

Inglewood Speaks Out: Community Rallies In Support of Clippers Arena

The Legacy of Elijah Cummings

Eye On Gospel

Headlines From Africa

8 10 Money Matters

Game Changers

Pastor Reginald Pope to Receive Lifetime Acheivement Award; Williamson Appointed Pastor at Christ Our Redeemer AME; Compton Church to Open Dignity Center

Pastor Lemuel Mossett

Tributes have come in from around the country in honor of actor/comedian John Witherspoon, who passed away on October 29 at the age of 77. Services for Witherspoon, best known for his work in the “Friday” film franchise with Ice Cube and on the “Boondocks”, are set for Tuesday, November 5 at Forest Lawn, Hollywood Hills.

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

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

advisory board Napoleon Brandford Pastor Beverly Crawford Lem Daniels Bob Blake

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

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Commentary

STAR PARKER Guest Columnist

“Will the Supreme Court Decide for Education Freedom”

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he Supreme Court, in its new term, will hear a case that could remove a major barrier that stands between what our nation is today and what it can and should be.

The case is Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue.

It's about whether states can block use of public funds that parents use to pay for their children's education in a religious school.

We have already been down this road at the federal level. In 2002, the Supreme Court ruled in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris that there is no constitutional obstacle to parents accessing public funds available for education to pay for religious education for their children.

The logic was crystal clear. The constitution prohibits government from mandating or establishing a particular religion. But if public funds for education are available for use by parents and parents choose to use these funds to send their children to a religious school, it's the parents, not the government, who make the decision.

This cleared things up at the federal level.

Now Espinoza can clear things up at the state level.

Thirty-seven states have as part of their state constitution language known as the Blaine Amendment.

Blaine Amendments prohibit the use of government funds for religious activity.

They have been a major obstacle to state programs that wish to provide vouchers or tax credits to finance scholarships that can provide parents funds for any education they want for their children – including religious education.

In the Espinoza case, the state of Montana enacted a tax credit program in 2015 that gave taxpayers credits for contributing to scholarship funds for parents to pay for education.

The Montana Department of Revenue blocked use of these funds for religious schools, claiming that it violated Montana's Blaine Amendment.

The case made its way to the Montana Supreme Court, which threw out the whole program, claiming that allowing any of the funds provided through tax credits to go to religious schools violated the state constitution.

From the Editor

Now the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case.

A decision concluding that Blaine Amendment prohibitions blocking public funds for parental choice in education violates the U.S. Constitution's protection of religious liberty will have huge nationwide repercussions.

It will open the door to put freedom and responsibility for the education of children where it should be – with parents.

The First Amendment of the Constitution is about protecting religious liberty. It is not about banning religion from American public life. Too often, in these confused times, it has been interpreted as the latter.

Disproportionately, it is low-income minority children who have been the victims of absence of religious liberty in education.

They are the ones most likely trapped in failing public schools with no way out.

But this is about more than providing competition to public schools. It is about freedom.

Parents should be able to decide what their children need and how they should be educated.

I cannot think of anything more un-American than telling a parent that it is illegal for their children to learn the Ten Commandments in school, or learn that marriage is a critically important sacrament between one man and one woman, or that life is sacred from the beginning of its journey in the womb.

And I cannot think of a more destructive institution than the teachers unions that are on the front lines fighting this most basic aspect of American freedom.

Not only do unions fight freedom of education; they also use the public school monopoly as a platform to promote anti-religious, anti-Christian values, peddling a moral relativism that is destroying our country.

All agree that education is critically important to every child's future. Let's hope that, finally, all American parents will be empowered with the most fundamental right to educate their children as they see fit.

Star Parker is president of CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and Education and author of the new book "Necessary Noise", Center Street, now available at your favorite book site.

Contact her at www.urbancure.org.

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“Seed On Good Soil” ven in his death, Elijah Cummings would make history as the first AfricanAmerican lawmaker ever to lie in repose in storied halls of the capital of the United States.

Two presidents–Clinton and Obama– were among the distinguished speakers at his service. In his remarks Obama would recall the good soil that served as a foundation for all this son of sharecroppers would accomplish.

“The Parable of the Sower tells us, stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering, produce a crop. The seed on good soil. Elijah Cummings came from good soil,” Obama said.

“And in this sturdy frame, goodness took root.

Elijah became a lawyer to make sure others had rights, and his people had their godgiven rights, and from the statehouse to the House of Representatives. His commitment to justice and the rights of others would never, ever waver. Elijah’s example, a son of parents who rose from nothing to carve out a little something, a public servant who toiled to guarantee the least of us have the same opportunities that he had earned, a leader who once said he would die for his people, even as he lived every minute for them – his life validates the things we tell ourselves about what is possible in this country. Not guaranteed, but possible. The possibility that our destinies are not preordained, but rather through our work, with our dedication, and our willingness to open our hearts to God’s message of love for all people, we can live a purposeful life. We can reap a bountiful harvest. We are neither sentenced to weather among the rocks nor assured a bounty, but we have a capacity, a chance, as individuals and as a nation, to root ourselves in good soil.

Elijah understood that.

“That’s why he went on to fight for the rights and opportunities for God’s people all across America. Not just in his district. He was never complacent, for he knew that without clarity of purpose and a steadfast faith, and the dogged determination demanded by our liberty, the promise of this nation can wither. Complacency, he knew, was not only corrosive for our collective lives, but for our individual lives.”

While I can’t say I knew Elijah Cummings, I had the opportunity to meet him on a couple of occasions in Washington D.C. and was impressed by his warmth, humility and grace. One of my biggest regrets is not being able to make a more intimate gathering a girlfriend, Lena Kennedy, hosted for him in Southern California earlier this year.

I will, however, remember his words, “Our children are the living messengers we send to a future we will never see,” and his quest to fight for what’s good and what is true, and what is best in America, no matter the odds.

Aside from the fact that doing what I do as publisher of L.A. Focus keeps me

L.A. Focus/November 2019

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up to speed on what’s going on in the world around me, the best part of my job is the people I’ve come to know. One of them is my good friend, L.A. County fire chief Daryl Osby, the first African American to hold the title and a man committed to seeing that the over 2800 employees and firefighters who answer to him have all they need to provide first rate service to the residents whose homes they seek to protect.

A shout out to “The Chief” and all of the brave firefighters who are waging a war against nature on the frontlines of the California wildfires scorching our hillsides.

Finally, in what was the hug viewed across the nation (and replayed on social media a million times over), 18-year old Brandt Jean walked off the witness stand last month to embrace Amber Guyger, the former Dallas police officer who shot and killed his older brother Botham in his apartment which she says she mistook as her own. The show of compassion that defied courtroom protocol also sparked a myriad of reactions from admiration to frustration and shock.

The footage shows Jean hugging Guyger for almost a minute after telling her: "I hope you go to God with all the guilt, all of the bad things you may have done in the past. If you truly are sorry, I forgive you, and if you go to God and ask Him, He will forgive you".

Jean's mercy toward Guyger, unfortunately, has been viewed with contempt by some, due to the racial implications of the case. Guyger, who is white, received just 10 years, a sentence many blacks believed to be too light.

The judge was also criticized for hugging Guyger, handing her a Bible and quoting her scripture –actions characterized as “inappropriate”.

Both the judge and Jean put their faith first and answer to a higher power than today’s near morally bankrupt society dictates.

"I'm proud of you my son. Your load is lighter," Jean’s mother posted on Facebook.

"Regardless of the views of the spectators, walk with God always. Forgiveness is for the forgiver and it doesn't matter what the forgiven does with it."

Couldn’t have said it better myself and just another example of more seed planted on good soil to the glory of a God who has freely forgiven all of us.

Keep the faith.

UpFront

News Briefs

Congresswoman Bass Outlines Next Steps In Impeachment Inquiry DIANNE LUGO Staff Writer ith the recent vote to formalize an impeachment inquiry into President Donald Trump, Congresswoman Karen Bass took the step to address the nation’s black-owned newspaper publishers. In a recent conference call, the chair of the Congressional Black Caucus made it clear that the vote was not a vote to impeach the president, but instead a resolution with five major points.

“What we did today was to vote to continue the depositions, hearings and investigations that have been ongoing.”

The draft version of the resolution released by House Democrats goes further in outlining the next steps in the process that could eventually lead to the impeachment of Trump. It authorizes the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee to conduct open hearings and present testimony and evidence against Trump. The resolution also allows the president and his attorneys to crossexamine witnesses and present evidence in his favor.

Findings made by the House committees leading the inquiry are to be reported to the House Judiciary Committee, which will decide whether to recommend articles of impeachment.

While the vote marks a significant and clear step forward, Congresswoman Bass acknowledged public confusion and restlessness.

“People are frustrated because it seems like we have been investigating

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this president forever, but the reality is Congress only has been investigating the president since March of this year,” Bass explained. “The first two years of his presidency, when Republicans were in charge, they refused to provide any oversight whatsoever, so the investigation that was done by [Special Counsel Robert] Mueller was not part of a congressional process. After the Mueller Report came out, we spent time looking at the ten examples of obstruction of justice, where we believe that the president violated the law. But one of the frustrations of the Mueller process was that he refused to make a definitive statement.”

Bass credited the public allegations from a whistleblower that Trump had abused his power to pressure Ukraine to conduct investigations into his political opponents as a pivotal moment that moved the inquiry forward.

“What I think happened was a dramatic change in the situation. We were looking at the president before — what

happened in the past. When the whistleblower came forward, well, that’s happening now. It’s one thing to talk about his past, but it’s a whole other situation to speak about him violating the law presently on an ongoing basis.”

Maxine Waters also commented on the House’s vote.

“Contrary to what desperate Republicans have claimed, the Constitution imposes no requirement that a procedural resolution such as H. Res. 660 be voted upon by the House,” Waters said in part. “Claiming otherwise is but a fabrication meant to distract from the mountain of growing evidence that demonstrates this president abused his power for personal benefit.”

Waters also reminded Republicans that they were the ones to call for a vote in the first place.“Because Republicans requested a formal procedural vote, I expect nothing less than their full support for H. Res. 660,” she said. “Anything less would be shameful.”

“People want this administration to go. And let me tell you something. I’m at the top of that list,” Congresswoman Bass added during the call. “But if we don’t do it in the right way, we will simply empower him and help him to be reelected.”

While the House Intelligence Committee will continue to hold private meetings and witnesses will continue to testify behind closed doors, Bass said public hearings should begin soon.

California Law Nudges NCAA Into Action On Athlete Pay

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L.A. Focus/November 2019

s California’s new student-athlete compensation law continues to spark a nationwide movement, the NCAA Tuesday agreed to allow college players to sign paid endorsement deals, but left itself room to define the terms of those agreements.

The decision, which even in its limited form represents a dramatic shift for college sports economics, could ease thefears of California universities that their students might be barred from NCAA tournaments if the association did not change its own rules. And it’s a sign that the NCAA is feeling the heat as at least 10 other states consider passing bills similar to California’s.

“We must embrace change to provide the best possible experience for student athletes,” NCAA board of governors chair Michael Drake said in a statement released at the board’s meeting in Atlanta, where members voted unanimously to break with existing policy and let student athletes profit from the use of their name, image and likeness “in a manner consistent with the collegiate model.”

It’s that last phrase that has observers in California wondering.The state’s Fair Pay to Play Act, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September, does not allow student athletes to earn salaries, but places few restrictions on their ability to market themselves to potential sponsors; they must only avoid conflicting with universities’ existing endorsement deals.

But on Tuesday,the NCAA board saidany rule changes will be guided by eight principles, includ-

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ing that they will “reaffirm that studentathletes are students first” and “protect the recruiting environment.”

That could mean authorizingsome types of compensation –such as a star athlete earning money fromads on her YouTube page–but not those that could be viewed as connected to recruitment, such as a local booster paying athletes to appear at his small business. The board asked its three divisions to prepare new rules based on the principles no later than 2021.

California’s law doesn’t take effect until 2023, and both Newsom and the law’s coauthor, state Sen. Nancy Skinner, have said they hope to work with the NCAA on a solution that could apply nationwide.

Skinner said Tuesday that there may be other “appropriate rules” that would strengthen the California law, “but we have to see what the NCAA means.

California has been clear that we won’t accept arbitrary limitations on an athlete’s ability to generate income.”

Much of the speculation in California had revolved around whetherthe NCAA –which has called the Fair Pay to Play Act unconstitutional –would sue the state, follow through on its threat to exclude California athletes from tournaments, or seek a compromise. Long Beach State athletic director Andy Feetold CalMatters last monththat California’s legislation could complicate recruiting if the NCAA did not take action.

California State University spokesperson Mike Uhlenkamp said Tuesday the university was still reviewing the NCAA’s statement but called it “a

FELICIA MELLO CalMatters

step in the right direction.”

Meanwhile, the number of state and federal bills seeking to mirror California’s continued to grow –and some have effective dates earlier than California’s.

A measure authored by Florida Rep. Chip LaMarca and endorsed by that state’s governor, Ron DeSantis, would take effect next year. A bill by New York state Sen. Kevin Parker would go farther than California’s, setting aside 15% of college athletic revenue for players, while one pending in New Jersey is more restrictive, barring any endorsement deals with companies marketing alcohol, gambling, tobacco and certain other products. At least two federal bills are also in the works.

Other recent events have ratcheted up the pressure on the NCAA to find a nationwide solution.

Earlier this week, theNFL Players Association announcedthat it would partner with the National College Players Association, a key backer of the California law, to represent college athletes in group licensing and merchandising agreements.

“It’s important for players to have a vehicle for group licensing that puts players as the top priority, not the colleges,” said NCPA executive director Ramogi Huma, a former UCLA football player.

He said details of the partnership were evolving and would depend on how state and federal laws develop. But he added that they could include licensing players’ name, image and likeness for video games, negotiating group deals Clippers continued to page 24

Democratic Polls Point to White Candidate as Best Bet For Beating Trump The 2020 Democratic race for the nomination may be the most diverse ever with Kamala Harris, Cory Booker, Andrew Yang, but recent polls suggest that even liberal democrats are not ready for another president of color and are instead polling all white. A key factor according to the New York Times is that the Democratic voting base believes its best bet for beating Donald Trump is a white candidate.

Biden remains the first choice for black voters as the democratic field begins to narrow.

Beto O’Rourke quit his campaign last month as Cory Booker and Julian Castro are struggle for cash enough to stay in the running.

Kamala Harris, whose campaign is reported to be “hemorrhaging cash” has laid off staff in a restructuring move ahead of the Iowa caucuses.

And based on the rules regarding poll numbers, campaign cash and donor numbers, some project that Harris might be the only nonwhite candidate to have a chance to make it into the December debates.

Inglewood Mayor’s Former Assistant Changes Her Story to Support Madison Square Garden Allegations Melanie McDade-Dickens, the former assistant to Inglewood Mayor James Butts, has recanted much of the sworn testimony she previously made in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the proposed Clippers Arena. Mc-Dade Dickens, whose exorbitant salary made her the subject of a great deal of controversy and speculation–was placed on administrative leave and escorted from her City Hall office in July for reportedly violating policies.

In September, her lawyer submitted legal corrections to a previous deposition that support the assertion by Madison Square Garden (MSG) that Butts tricked them into giving up land he said would be used for a technology park, while instead negotiating with the Clippers for the site.

Attorneys for the city of Inglewood are alleging perjury and have asked the judge to throw the corrections out.

McDade-Dickens–once considered to be a hostile witness by MSG–is now being accused of being in cahoots with the company, an allegation that was strongly denied in a statement from MSG and characterized as “a complete fabrication”.

Still to be determined is whether or not the corrections will be allowed.

Princeton Seminary Announces $27 Million for reparations Over Slave Ties After the Princeton Theological Seminary underwent a two-year investigation the delved into the school’s relationship to slavery, the New Jersey seminary has pledged $27 million for reparations.

It marks the largest monetary commitment of its kind and will be used to establish scholarships and doctoral fellowships to repent for its history. A total of 30 scholarships for students who descended from slaves or underrepresented groups will be available and five doctoral fellowships will also be designated by the seminary. A full-time director for the Center for Black Church Studies will also be hired The seminary’s history included investing in southern banks and accepting donors who benefited from slavery. Founding teachers and leaders were also revealed to have used slave labor and some advocated to send free Black men and women to Liberia.

President Craig Barnes said the school’s ties to slavery are “part of our story” and a truth that he did not want to “shy away from.”

HeadToHead War of Words Over Trump’s Lynching Tweet

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resident Donald Trump The ‘Lynching’ that torture to whitewash your own ignited yet another controcorruption is disgraceful."

Hypocrisy versy when, on Twitter, he Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., a black compared the Democrats' pursuit of his congressman, tweeted: "You think this impeachment to a "lynching." impeachment is a LYNCHING? What the His tweet that launched a thousand hell is wrong with you? Do you know how denunciations read: "So some day, if a many people look like me have been Democrat becomes President and the lynched, since the inception of this country, Republicans win the House, even by a tiny by people who look like you." margin, they can impeach the President, The left-wing website Slate published an without due process or fairness or any legal article with the headline "Trump's rights. All Republicans must remember 'Lynching' Tweet Isn't what they are witnessing here -- a lynching. Just Offensive. It's But we will WIN!" Dangerous."

Slate Immediately, Trump derangement syn- wrote: "The worddrome kicked in. The critics cried: How dare lynching conjures the Trump --a white man -- trivialize America's imagery of the 4,000 history of blacks lynched by white racists? killed in racial terror NPR's Tamara Keith promptly fired off lynchings by the this tweet: "This is new rhetoric from 1960s, what Billie President Trump. From 'witch hunt' to 'coup' Holiday sang as "Black Larry to 'lynching,' Trump keeps escalating his bodies swinging in the Elder language. (Clarence Thomas called his con- Southern breeze." By firmation process a "high tech lynching" but definition, to be lynched is to be punished or there is a big difference between Trump and killed (often by a group) without due process Thomas)." or a trial. The president's claim is facially Presumably, Thomas, a black man, could absurd because he is not being punished acceptably refer to his confirmation hearing, without process." in which he was accused of sexual harassHere's the problem: Where were the voices ment, as a "lynching," but, Trump, a white of indignation during the impeachment of man, cannot.

President Bill Clinton when his defenders Democratic presidential candidate and used the very same word? Let's go to the former Vice President Joe Biden tweeted: 1998 videotape: "Impeachment is not 'lynching,' it is part of White male Rep. Jim McDermott, Dour Constitution. Our country has a dark, Wash., described those pursuing Clinton's shameful history with lynching, and to even impeachment as a "political lynch mob." think about making this comparison is McDermott said, "Find the rope, find the abhorrent. It's despicable." tree and ask a bunch of questions later."

Speaking at a historically black college, White male Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said according to Axios, Democratic presidential to Clinton, "The lynch mob, though, Mr. candidate Sen. Kamala Harris said: "What President, now has a new leader." do we have in Donald Trump? Someone who White male Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., dares -- dares -- to use the word 'lynching' said, "It's a verbal political lynching on the with the blood that has been poured on the floor of the Senate." soil of South Carolina and so many (places).

Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., on the House And dares to talk about his victimization floor, said: "What we are doing here is not a and compare it to those who have suffered in prosecution, it's a persecution and indeed it a criminal justice system in America that is a political lynching." has too often been informed by racial bias Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., on the House and by injustice. And he dares to compare floor, said: "I will not vote for this nightmare himself to the people who have been at the before Christmas. I will not vote for this wrong end of a system that is in need of lynching in the people's House. I will vote reform."

Harris tweeted: "Lynching is a against these resolutions." reprehensible stain on this nation's history, Biden, another white male, in 1998 told as is this President. We'll never erase the CNN that history will judge Clinton's pain and trauma of lynching, and to invoke Lary Elder continued to page 22

Headlines From Africa Botswana: Botswana has confirmed that more than 100 elephants have died in the past two months partly because of a suspected anthrax outbreak. Others have died from drought effects. The wildlife authority has announced that carcasses of the elephants will be burned in an effort to prevent the infection from spreading to other animals.

Burundi: As penalties for black market trading are increased, the ministry of public security has announced that more than 40 have been arrested for “breaching the central bank regulation on foreign exchange.”

Ethiopia: Prime Minister Aby Ahmed of Ethiopia won 2019’s Nobel Peace Prize in recognition for his role in ending the 20-year war between Ethiopia and Eritrea over disputed border territory that came at a huge financial and human cost to both countries.

Guinea: Five opposition leaders have been sentenced to prison as protests continue against changes to the constitution that could let President Alpha Conde seek a third term. Ten protestors have been killed during the demonstrations after police opened fire on protestors ransacking military posts and blocking roads.

Guinea–Bissau: President Jose Mario Vaz named Faustino Fudut Imbali as the new prime minister but his fired predecessor is refusing to step down calling the president’s orders illegitimate and intensifying the bitter power struggle between Vaz and the ruling party just weeks before a presidential election.

Kenya: Kenya has opened a $1.5 billion Chinese-built railway that links Nairobi to Naivasha and links to another Chinese funded and built $3.2 billion line between the port of Monasa and Nairobi that opened in 2017.

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onald Trump tweeted, “If Trump’s ‘Lynching’ Powerful people steal the lana Democrat becomes guage of those they oppress to Tweet isn’t Just President and the signal to others that they themOffensive. It’s Republicans win the House, selves are victims. This carefulDangerous even by a tiny margin, they can ly crafted narrative of victimimpeach the President, without due hood has perpetuated its own lynchings. process or fairness or any legal rights. All Dylann Roof announced, “I have to do Republicans must remember what they this because you are raping our women are witnessing here–a lynching. But we and taking over the world,” as he murwill WIN!” dered nine Black people at the Mother The word lynching conjures the Emanuel church in South Carolina, six of imagery of the 4,000 them women. He lynched them. False and killed in racial terror mischaracterized assertions of white lynchings by the women’s victimhood inspired thousands of 1960s, what Billie Black beatings, lynchings, and prosecuHoliday sang as tions. Trump knows this well: He paid for “Black bodies swing- an advertisement in the New York Times ing in the Southern to call for the torture and execution of breeze.” By definition, angry “young men,” a reference to the to be lynched is to be black teens known as the Central Park punished or killed Five, who were accused–and ultimately Derecka (often by a group) exonerated–of raping a jogger.

Purnell without due process or Justice Clarence Thomas claimed to be a trial. The president’s claim is facially a victim of a “high-tech lynching” after his absurd because he is not being punished former employee, Anita Hill, a black without process. His own tweet even indi- woman, testified during his Supreme cates that impeachment is the process. If Court confirmation hearings that he sexuthe House of Representatives formally rec- ally harassed her for years. “Lynched, ognizes his wrongdoing after an inquiry, destroyed, caricatured by a committee of then the Senate will start a trial and reach the U. S. Senate, rather than hung from a a verdict. tree,” he said. Pulling a page from Thomas’ It is tempting to delve into the distinc- testimony, Bill Cosby and singer R. Kelly tions between Trump’s farcical claim and borrowed the lynching language to dismiss actual horrors of lynching. It is tempting to sexual assault claims against them. talk about the Black and brown people who Police officers have also used the lanhad limbs, genitalia, and even babies cut guage of victimization since coming under from their bodies. It is tempting to describe more widespread criticism by the Black the fetor of burning flesh, or the sight of Lives Matter movement. Under the rallyEmmett Till’s body tied to an industrial ing cry “Blue Lives Matter,” states have fan, or the smiling faces of white women, passed laws and sentencing enhancements men, and children as they rejoiced in Black that criminalize protest and provide addibodies’ last gasps for air. And, to refute tional protection for any kind of action that politicians of both parties who now suggest could be interpreted as violence against lynching is confined to a dark chapter in police officers. But law enforcement is American history, it is tempting to point to actually far less dangerous than many modern-day lynchings perpetuated by other jobs; police officer deaths have white men who assert “stand your ground” declined by more than half over the past 40 defenses after killing Black people, or years. Meanwhile, the number of police police officers who rehearse the “I feared shooting victims still hovers at about 1,000 for my life” script following their violent people per year. acts The false portrayal of powerful people Fortunately, activists, politicians, and as victims can inspire vigilantes to identify scholars condemned Trump’s comparison with and defend them by any means. and his Republican backers. But it’s also White supremacists patrol the border to important to read Trump’s outrageous defend their country. Militias showed up to claim as a common and dangerous tactic: Derecka Purnell continued to page 22

A look at current news from the continent of Africa Libya: Mitiga, the capital city’s only functioning airport, has been reopened nearly two months after its closure. Originally shut after being repeatedly struck by artillery fire and air strikes, the transport minister announced its reopening and a hope for the smooth return of flights.

Nigeria: Police released 150 students from a religious school in northern Nigeria, the fourth such operation in a month according to police. A total of 1,000 students have been freed from religious schools that claim to teach the Koran but instead subject students to abuse.

Rwanda: Volkswagen has imported a batch of electric powered cars into Rwanda for a local ride-hailing service in hopes of establishing the service in the country and later expanding it to other nations.

South Africa: South Africa is hoping to grow untapped tourist markets in China by signing a two-year agreement with the Chinese Internet firm Tencent, which will use its large WeChat platform to position South Africa as a preferred tourism destination with digital marketing campaigns on its popular WeChat platform and other TenCent platforms.

Uganda: 16 LGBT activists were arrested in Uganda on suspicion of gay sex, which is punishable with life imprisonment, further escalating tensions in the country over heightened reports of homophobic attacks after a minister said earlier in October that the government planned to reintroduce the death penalty for gay sex. The threat was retracted after international backlash.

MoneyMatters

On the Money

The High Cost of “Gray” Divorces ver 50 and considering a divorce? You might want to think again.

While divorces for people over 50–often referred to as “Gray Divorce”–are on the rise in the U.S.,–more than doubling since 1990– it can be particularly hazardous to one’s emotional and financial health and for women it has been dubbed as “the great retirement plan disruptor.”

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and former wife, MacKenzie, split in July. She received a whopping $39.7 billion, yet he is still the world’s richest man with an estimated fortune of $123.1 billion. But that is hardly the case for most who choose to go their separate ways after 50, with women most often taking the brunt of the financial hit.

According to research from the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, those who get divorced after age 50 can expect their wealth to drop by about 50%. For women that meant on average a 45% decrease in their standard of living, compared to a 21% decline for men.

Sandra H. married her husband in 2002 at the age of 40. She recalls him asking what her retirement plan was and she pointed to him and said, “you” somewhat jokingly. But ten years later when divorced, they the joke was on her.

As part of gray divorce rate proceedings– also known as “silver or diamond splitters– retirement assets (typically biggest the source of contention in gray divorce cases, after alimony) get split making for a dire impact on older individuals’ wealth in retirement.

Women age 63 and older who’ve gone through a gray divorce have a poverty rate of 27% – more than any other group that age, including widows – and nine times that of couples who stay married.

“Getting a gray divorce is a major financial shock. It’s a grim picture,” said Susan Brown, a Bowling Green State University sociology professor and co-director of the National Center for Family & Marriage Research, which has generated many of the new findings. According to one study, people who’ve gone through a gray divorce report higher levels of depression than those whose spouses died.

O

For those who’ve married and divorced multiple times, the financial consequences can be even harsher.

Making matters worse is that due to their age, they cannot rebound from the financial hits, which would in most cases take any number of years to recover financially from. With fewer options and declining work opportunities –particularly for those women who spent years as homemakers trying to reenter a competitive workforce, the financial destruction can be brutal.

“There is no appreciable recovery on the wealth front,” said Brown. “There’s no appreciable recovery in standard of living.”

A number of key factors account for why women come out worse financially including their desire to keep the house, while the ex-husband opts for the retirement account; the loss of health insurance under a spouse’s employer; and a potential social security penalty if they didn’t work enough to qualify for benefits on their own. (Keep in mind, she receives half the Social Security benefits of her ex if they were married 10 years or more she unless remarries).

Research suggests that it takes about four years for depression to subside after a gray divorce and that the best way to from recover divorce at any age is to find a new spouse or partner. It can also help repair one’s financial situation. But that poses chalfor lenges women over 50, particularly as men tend to look for partners who are younger and women opting to enjoy their independence. Estimates are that about 22% of women and 37% of men re-partner in the decade after a gray divorce.

Ironically, the divorce rates for younger age groups has fallen, as Millennials in particular delay getting married or sometimes skip marriage altogether. Millennials who do get married are more likely to stay together than baby boomers were. And as boomers continue to divorce, the rate of gray divorce–if it were to remain steady–would mean about 828,000 Americans over 50 will be divorcing each year by 2030 according to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.

Michael Jackson Named Top Earning Dead Celebrity Michael Jackson is back on top, though not likely a list anyone wants to die for. It is the ranking of the top earning dead celebrities released the day before Halloween. Seems the King of Pop ranks supreme even in death, raking in over $60 million in pretax income to top the list for the seventh consecutive year.

That’s even after the controversy surrounding HBO’s “Leaving Neverland”, which drudged up the molestation allegations that tarnished the image of Jackson, who died in 2009 at the age of 50 from acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication. Monies earned by the singer’s estate included a Las Vegas show and a $250 million deal with Sony for the rights to distribute his recordings.

Jackson was followed on the list by the King of rock and roll, Elvis Presley, who came in at number two with $39 million. Other black artists making the list include Bob Marley, who ranked number five with $20 million, Prince at number nine with $12 million and Nipsey Hussle who edged out Whitney Houston (at $9.5 million) to capture the top ten spot with $11 million.

Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Nipsey Hussle also generated 15.2 billion streaming plays o v e r the

past year in the United States which marks an increase of 38.5% from the prior 12 m o n t h s , according to Forbes.

Now that’s how you rest in power!

Biz News Briefs Honeywell, one of the largest industrial conglomerates in the world, has announced that it has elected Deborah Flint to its Board of Directors as an independent Director.

In 2015, Flint was appointed chief executive officer of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) where she manages and operates Los Angeles International (LAX) and Van Nuys (VNY) airports.

"Deborah brings to the Honeywell Board of Directors a skillset that supports our strategy of becoming the premier software-industrial company," said Darius Adamczyk, chairman and CEO of Honeywell. "Her leadership skills are demonstrated each day at LAX, where she is leading the largest public works project in the history of the City of Los Angeles and oversees the largest airport police force in the U.S. We are confident that Deborah's invaluable expertise and experiences will help advance Honeywell's ongoing transformation and

L.A. Focus/November 2019

Deborah Flint Joins Honeywell Board of Directors

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the acceleration of our growth in software across our end markets."

As executive director of LAWA, Deborah Flint has led the transformation of LAX which has soared in world airport rankings to become the fourth busiest airport in the world.

Byron Allen Acquires 11 Television Stations from USA Television in $290 Million Deal Allen’s company Entertainment Studios has struck a deal with USA Television to acquire 11 local TV stations for $290 million. The stations servic markets such as Huntsville, Alabama, Fort Wayne, Indiana, ChicoRedding, California, and Eugene, Oregon. Entertainment Studios was also a partner in the recent takeover of regional sports networks led by the Sinclair Broadcast group, the acquisition of four station in Indiana and Louisiana for $165 million in July, and the purchase of the Weather Channel for $300 million in 2018.

“I have known Byron Allen for decades and we are delighted that these stations will now be part of his dynamic company, and that Heartland management will continue to guide them,” USA Television CEO Robert S. Prather Jr. said.

“This is another milestone for our company, as we have now agreed to purchase our second broadcast network affiliate station group within the past three months and

continue to aggressively look for other opportunities to grow our global media company through strategic acquisitions,” added Allen in the announcement.

Governor Gavin Newsom Signs Legislation to Curb Predatory Lending In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law the Fair Access to Credit Act (AB 539) which puts a rate cap of approximately 36% annual percentage rate (APR) for installment loans of $2,500 to $10,000 and effectively curbs predatory lending.

Without this law, lenders were allowed to charge borrowers 100% to 300% APR for installment loans that often targeted black and brown families. The bill received strong bipartisan backing with many demonstrating support for ending predatory and abusive lending in the state.

With Newsom’s signature, California has become the 38th state with a rate cap for loans above $2,500.

According to The Center for Responsible Lending (CRL) nearly 350,000 loans, in the range of $2,500 to $9,999, carried an interest rate of more than 100% in California— underscoring the necessity for the bill. The CRL also calculated that without AB 539, a California borrower taking out a four-year unsecured loan of $3,000 at 100% interest would pay for than $9,263 in interest over the life of the loan. With AB 539, that same loan would now cost $2,876.

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INGLEWOOD: Speaks OUT Community Rallies in Support of Clippers Arena

Clippers Arena Contributor

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L.A. Focus/November 2019

fter tackling the sale and renovation of the Forum and a new NFL stadium for the Rams and C h a r g e r s , Inglewood leaders knew that it would take a lot of hard work and patience to shepherd a $1.2 billion NBA arena, team headquarters, training complex and community center.

The project is turning out to be a bit more difficult than they imagined, thanks to a certain multi-billion-dollar publicly traded company based in New York.

Frustrated by a record-setting delay in certifying the project by state air-quality regulators, a delegation of more than 50 Inglewood elected officials, business owners, faith leaders, educators and housing advocates made a visit to the state capital in late October, putting on a clinic in polit10 ical diplomacy.

Their mission: educate the members of the California Air Resources Board about the significant economic and social impacts that the 18,500-seat Inglewood Basketball and Entertainment Complex, proposed by the Los Angeles Clippers, could have on the city and surrounding region.

State Sen. Steve Bradford, whose district includes the city of Inglewood, set the tone for the speakers that would follow.

“Dr. (Martin Luther) King wrote a book called, “Why We Can’t Wait,’ ” Sen. Bradford told the 14-member panel. “I’m here today to tell you why we can’t wait.”

Sen. Bradford implored the board to complete its review, now in its 11th month, “as soon as possible” because the project offers “desperately needed” jobs as well as affordable housing and a host of social programs for the community.

“I have personally worked with the project sponsors, who have worked hard to include state-of-the-art, environmentally sound practices to this project,” Sen. Bradford.

“Many have doubted that our communities of color would ever experience the possibilities of a project such as this,” Sen. Bradford said. “Despite those doubts, it is now within our reach.”

Under a state law authored by Sen. Bradford and Assembly Member Sydney Kamlager-Dove, the arena complex is entitled to a “fast-track” legal review, which caps legal challenges to the project at nine months. As part of that process, CARB must certify the project, which would clear the way for Gov. Gavin Newsom to OK limiting the time period for lawsuits.

But the agency has delayed certification for more than 10 months under intense lobbying pressure from New York-based Madison Square Garden Co., which owns the nearby Forum and view the Clippers proposed arena as a competitive threat.

CARB has responded by seeking a range of measures

We aren’t measuring ourselves against what we were, but what we can be.

To some, this project might look like just another business deal, but it’s the final piece of the transformation of the City of Champions.

Left: Inglewood resident and business owners attend CARB meeting in support of Clippers Arena project. Right: Pastors George Hurtt, K.W. Tulloss and Welton Pleasant were joined by KJLH program director Aundrae Russell at the CARB meeting.

to mitigate air pollution and traffic congestion that is unprecedented in California history, and has not been required of similar projects proposed in more affluent communities.

For example, the board took only 63 days to certify the new Golden State Warriors arena in San Francisco, 56 days for the new $5 billion Apple Circle campus in Cupertino, and 14 days for the reconstruction of Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

“Not certifying this project would allow New York outsiders to determine Inglewood’s fate,” and that’s just not right, Sen. Bradford said.

Indeed, Inglewood Mayor James Butts told the board that he objected to the agency’s “incongruent and unprecedented ” measures to mitigate greenhouse gases and traffic congestion during construction and operation of the arena complex.

Those requirements have greatly slowed the approval process, potentially threatening the viability of transformational project that would mark the turn-around of a city once known for unemployment, high crime and gang violence Mayor Butts said.

“We aren’t measuring ourselves against what we were, but what we can be,” Mayor Butts said. “To some, this project might look like just another business deal, but it’s the final piece of the transformation of the City of Champions.”

He said the Clippers project would not only provide thousands of $60- to $90-anhour construction jobs, it also comes with the promise of $75 million for desperately needed affordable housing.

“Who would invest similar sum? We’re not asking the state for $75 million for affordable housing,” said Butts. “It’s coming from the Clippers.”

Mayor Butts said that CARB’s imposition of “unheard of” measures on the project — which was designed to be net-carbon neutral, with a LEED Gold-certified arena and sweeping traffic management plan — was grossly unfair to the residents of Inglewood.

As an example of regulatory overkill, Mayor Butts pointed to the requirement by CARB staff that the project include mitigation for vehicle emissions generated by 41 dates that would come open at Staples Center once the Clippers move to Inglewood.

“When Los Angeles stole the Lakers and the Kings from us, you didn’t require them to offset emissions [for 82 events] in our community,” Butts said.

Butts also criticized CARB’s demand that the arena complex make up for these extra emissions in part by providing 1,000 electric, zero-emission mini-vehicles for Inglewood residents to rent for $89 a day.

“You’re requiring this project to provide 1,000 electric cars for a city of 9.5 square miles,” Mayor Butts said. “But Sacramento only has 150 electric cars for 100 square miles.”

Clippers 100% Community Investment (By Comparison)

Where The Money Will Go

Ricardo Rosales, Director of the Midnight Mission HomeLife Family Living, said the affordable housing component of the project offers a unique opportunity for Inglewood residents, who are struggling with rising rents and home prices, to become self-sufficient.

Becoming self-sufficient “is much more difficult the past four or five years because it’s getting harder to find meaningful employment and a place to live,” Rosales said. “But this project brings solutions for all of that.”

CARB’s delay in approving the project also impacts Inglewood school children and their futures, said Trena Lawson, Assoc.

Executive Director of the Children of Promise Schools, a K-8 school in Inglewood.

“The students need this arena for the exposure to the athletes, an NBA team, the world of professional sports,” Lawson said, noting that her students also participate in the Clippers mentorship program. “Their parents need the jobs and the affordable housing.”

The arena also will act as a revenue generator for other businesses in Inglewood, helping strengthen the local economy, said Beny Ashburn, co-owner of Crowns & Hops, which is planning to open the only African American-owned brewery in Southern California in Inglewood next year.

“As local business owners, we can benefit from the same collateral effect and economic growth found in similar projects seen in wealthier communities all over the country,” Ashburn said.

The hearing in Sacramento capped a month of stepped-up pressure on CARB from the Inglewood community. In a letter to the panel, Sen. Bradford and Assembly Member Kamlager-Dove accused CARB of “implicit bias” by holding up the Clippers proposal while taking far less time to certify similar projects in more affluent areas. And Gov. Newsom, in a letter to CARB and the Clippers, said he was “disappointed” to learn that the parties have not been able to agree on a plan of mitigation measures.

“I urge you to remain at the table to work towards a solution that meets the statutory criteria — both in letter and in spirit — for environmental mitigations related to this arena,” Newsom wrote. “This project is important to the community and provides significant economic development benefits.”

Among the other Inglewood leaders and residents who made the trip to Sacramento were Eric Holly, President of the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce; Robert Chavez, Program Manager of the South Bay Workforce Investment Board; Rev. Welton Pleasant of Christ Second Baptist Church; Michelle Hicks, Realtor; Odest Riley, owner of WLM Financial; Willie Brown, publisher of Inglewood Today, and Aundrae Russell of radio station KJLH-FM.

Game Changers The Legacy of Elijah Cummings

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ated October 16, two subpoenas bear the signature of the late House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings. They mark one of Cummings’s last official acts before his death in the early morning hours of October 17 and, to many, represent the dedication and work ethic that Cummings was respected and known for.

Just hours before his death, staffers drove the two subpoenas to Baltimore for Cummings’ signature, said a Democratic committee aid. The subpoenas were addressed to U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services and U.S Immigration and Customs Services requesting documents connected to the Trump administration’s decision to end the medical deferred action program earlier this year. The program, which protected immigrants with severe illnesses from deportation while they receive treatment, was reinstated after intense public outrage and a House Oversight subcommittee hearing in September. However, the subpoenas display the continued scrutinization of the administration’s initial decision.

"Chairman Cummings felt so strongly about the children, that he was going to fight until the end," added the aide.

Regarded as a tireless official he also joined strategy calls with Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other chairmen from his hospital bed to continue his efforts in the impeachment inquiry into President Trump.

Elected in 1996 after a special election the 12 term Congressman had served for

When we’re dancing with the angels, the question will be asked, in 2019, what did we do to make sure we kept our democracy intact? Did we stand on the sidelines and say nothing?

—-Elijah Cummings 13 years in Maryland’s House of Delegates.

Serving there, he would become the first African American in Maryland history to be named Speaker Pro Tem. Cummings became a champion in his hometown of Baltimore where he was raised as one of seven children of Southern parents who worked as sharecroppers before moving north in pursuit of a better life.

As a child, at age 11, he helped integrate a swimming pool in Baltimore after a local NAACP attorney named Juanita Jackson Mitchell encouraged Cummings and the other local boys to stop using the small and shallow local pool and instead begin using the nearby Olympic-sized pool that was open to the public but had yet to be integrated. Cummings and the boys were met by angry white residents and Cummings was slashed above his eyebrow after bottles and rocks were thrown. The moment did not frighten Cummings but instead, he recalled that it marked the moment when he “declared that I was going to become a lawyer” and hinted at his future as a con-

stant civil rights advocate.

He charged forward in his path to become a lawyer and attended Baltimore City College, a historic magnet school that was known to enroll gifted students. He went on to attend Howard University and graduated with a degree in political science. During his time at Howard Cummings would rise through the ranks of student government and become its president, a clear indication of Cummings’s ambition. His law degree was earned at the University of Maryland in 1976 and his admittance to the bar in Maryland came later that same year.

After being elected to the House in 1996 by leading a crowded field of candidates in the Democratic primary, Cummings would serve the 7th Congressional District proudly and fiercely. It is a region rich in history, representative, of the city of Baltimore and it’s a gradual transition from a thriving manufacturing center to, in places, a region hit hard by the loss of factories. It was a fact not lost on Cummings and he often fought to direct federal money and programs to those old factory precincts.

Sherrilyn Ifill, president of the NAACP Legal

Defense and Educational Fund described Cummings as the ”moral force in the community,” to NPR. That connection to his city was highlighted when Cummings’s national fame grew in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death.

In 2015, Freddie Gray became the face of the growing #BlackLivesMatter movement and another unarmed black man who died in police custody, once again igniting anger over police use of force against black men.

After being arrested by Baltimore police for what police alleged was an illegal knife, Gray died while being transported in a police van after falling into a coma due to injuries to his spinal cord.

No federal charges came against the six officers involved in the arrest and death and trials against some of the officers ended in acquittals or mistrials.

After riots broke out in response to G r a y ’ s d e a t h , E l i j a h continued to page 24

Calendar of events

Ongoing Exhibit: L.A Blacksmith (Thru February 16, 2020) Beginning with Beulah Woodard’s homages to African mask making, this exhibit examines how the Watts Rebellion and other political/aesthetic ideas shaped metalwork.

Tues-Sat: 10am — 5pm; Sun: 11am — 5pm Free/Parking $12) California African American Museum (CAAM) 600 State Drive Info: (310) 676-7300 caamuseum.org

Saturday, November 2 ComplexCon Long Beach (Through November 3) Festival celebrating pop culture, music, art, food, activism, and education.

Live performances from Kid Cudi, Anderson. Paak and Rico Nasty along with talks from guests.

11:00AM • $60 — $600 Long Beach Convention Ctr 300 E. Ocean Blvd complexcon.com 2019 Hot Pink Affair: Pearls Behind the Mask Features cocktail reception, dinner and dancing.

Scholarships provided to

high school seniors 7:00 — 11:59PM • $125 Hilton LAX Hotel 5711 W. Century Blvd www.akamlo.org

Monday, November 4 Annual Black College Summit Meet with Admissions Directors and recruiters 5:00 — 8:00PM • Free Holman Methodist Church 3320 W Adams Boulevard blackcollegeadmissions.com

Tuesday, November 5 An Evening with Booker T. Jones (Rock and Roll Hall of Famer discussed his memoir, “Time is Tight: My Life, Note by Note.”

8:00PM • $20-$55 Bootleg Theater 2220 Beverly Boulevard livetalksla.org An Evening With Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Hillary and Chelsea Clinton celebrate their first book and discuss women in history who inspired them.

7:00PM • $42 Wilshire Ebell Theatre 4401 West 8th Street Contact: (310) 659 — 3110 booksoup.com

Church of God In Christ 112th Holy Convocation (Through November 12) Speakers include Mother Barbara McCoo Lewis and Bishop Charles Blake The America’s Center St. Louis Info:(901) 947-9322

Wednesday, November 6 Los Angeles Career Fair Meet, sit down and interview with employers.

11:30AM — 1:30PM • Free Hilton Hotel LAX 5711 W Century Blvd diversitycareer group.com

feature four workshops about employment, cyber technology, social justice and mental health.

10:00AM — 2:00 PM • Free Expo Center/City of LA Recreation and Parks 3890 Bill Robertson Lane lacodprsouth.youngmensconference.eventbrite.com Ladies’ Night Out Vol. 5 With Sunshine Anderson, Michel’le, Klymaxx, Syleena Johnson 7PM • $32.50 -

Friday, November 8 In Concert: The Isley Brothers 8PM • $58 - $148 The Saban Theatre 8440 Wilshire Blvd Info: (888) 645-5006

$62.50 Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center 1935 Manhattan Beach Bl Contact: (310) 937-6607 goldstar.com 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Lunch Food, games and more 12:00PM • Free Israel Baptist Church 4501 Compton Ave Israelmbc@yahoo.com israelmbc.com Rights Night: Our Rights, Our Issues A conversation with author and American Law scholar Randall Kennedy on the Bill of Rights 6:30PM •

Saturday, November 9 Young Men’s Conference Event hosted by LA County Parks and Recreation for boys ages 12-18.

The conference will

EVENT SPOTLIGHT Tuesday, November 5 The Donna Summer Musical (Thru November 24) Check for times and pricing Pantages Theatre 6233 Hollywood Blvd Info: (323) 468-1770 hollywoodpantages.com

L.A. Focus/November 2019

Halle Berry at the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta.

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accepted arfully te s m star. a Willi of Fame Wendy d Walk o o w y ll her Ho

kett and Trey Smith Jaden, Will, Jada Pin for the premiere of smile on the red carpet “Gemini Man.” film new ’s Will Smith

Kym Whit ley, Sher ri Shepher Areva Ma rtin atten d and d the 14th “Evening Annual Under Th e Stars” g ala.

Vanessa Bell Calloway celebrated the premiere of “Harriet” where she plays Harriet’s mother, Rit Ross.

Mayor Eric Garcetti joined organizers and over 385,000 people on Crenshaw Blvd. last month at the 14th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival. Attendees enjoyed music, food and opportunties at the “biggest and baddest block party in all of Los Angeles.”

Photo courtesy of Breanna Vandervilt and Christopher Iwuoma/L.A Sentinel

Free/Parking $8 Mark Taper Auditorium — Central Library 630 W. 5th St. www.lfla.org In Concert: Joshua Redman Quartet & the Bad Plus 7PM • $39 - $79 Royce Hall UCLA 10745 Dickson Court Contact: (310) 825-2101 roycehall.org

Wednesday, November 13 Leslie Odom Jr. at the Paramount 7:00PM • $35 The Paramount 2708 E. Cesar Chavez Ave. paramountla.com Conference: Racism In The Church–Hosted by Bishop Kenneth Ulmer Speakers include Pastor Wayne Chaney, Pastor Albert Tate, Bishops Van Moody and De’Andre Salter $99 - 309 (Through November 14) 333 W. Florence Avenue Contact: (310) 330-8000

www.mibf.org/2019-fellowship

Thursday, November 14 Concert: The Watoto Children’s Choir (Uganda) 7:00PM • Free Church of the Redeemer 900 E. Rosecrans Ave Contact: (310) 537-1372

Friday, November 15

Free/Reserved Seat for $10 Grand Park 200 North Grand Avenue spiritofthanksgiving.com 27th Annual Musicians in Action Awards Gala 6:00PM • $85-110 Renaissance Airport Hotel 9620 Airport Boulevard musicians-in-action.com

Curatorial Walkthrough: Making Mammy: A Caricature of Black Womanhood, 1840…

Hear about how the mammy figure was created to temper the atrocities of enslavement and serve southern interests economically and politically 1-2:00PM • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive caamuseum.org

Sunday, November 17

Saturday, November 16

Tuesday, November 19

Spirit of Thanksgiving Gospel Experience Featuring Vashawn Mitchell, Jason Brown, Lakeisha Solomon and more 11:00AM — 5:00PM •

LA Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Hosted by Mayor Eric Garcetti and featuring remarks from local women entrepreneurs, a business

Harlem 100 featuring Mwenso and The Shakes Multimedia production with a band and dancers celebrating the music of Fats Waller, Duke Ellington, Billie Holliday and Ethel Waters 7:00PM • $50+ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts 18000 Park Plaza Dr. Contact: (800) 300-4345 cerritoscenter.com

development resource expo, and networking opportunities with public and private officials and representatives.

10:00AM—2:00PM • Free L.A. City Hall south lawn 200 North Spring Street business.lacity.org Fashion Pioneers/Tastemakers: Black Design Collective Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter, Angela Dean of Deanzign, Kevan Hall of Kevan Hall Designs and T.J Walker of Cross Colours will discuss their iconic looks that have defined fashion for a generation 7-9:00PM • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive caamuseum.org

Wednesday, November 20

448 Main St spacelandpresents.com/eve nts/regent-theater-dtla/

Thursday, November 21 Los Angeles County Women’s Leadership Conference 2019 8:00AM • $85-$100 Pasadena Convention Center 300 East Green Street lacountywomensleadership.org

Friday, November 22 On Stage: August Wilson’s “Jitney” Check prices/showtimes The Mark Taper Forum 135 N. Grand Ave centertheatregroup.org

Saturday, November 23 A Tuba to Cuba The famed Preservation Hall Jazz Band retraces its musical roots from New Orleans to Cuba 8:00PM • $50+ Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts 18000 Park Plaza Dr. Contact: (800) 300-4345

around los angeles Areva Martin, Major, Sherri She pherd and Kym Whitley celebrate Areva Martin’s Special Needs Network’s 14th Annual gala and award show that helped raise funds.

Janelle Monae at Cynthia Erivo and ere for their new mi pre the Los Angeles movie “Harriet.”

In Concert: Big Freedia 18+ Concert 8:00PM • $25 Regent Theater DTLA

black carpet at Issa Rae brightens up the ood event. lyw Hol Elle’s Women in

cerritoscenter.com

Sunday, November 24 American Music Awards Featuring some of the music industry biggest stars 5PM • $215 - $800 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court www.microsofttheater.com

Saturday, November 30 MOVE: Dance 90’s Dance party celebrating the 1990s led by choreographer, actress and filmmaker Myshell Tabu 3-4:00PM • Free California African American Museum 600 State Drive caamuseum.org

Sunday, December 1 In Concert: The Ojays and Jeffrey Osborne & The Four Tops 7PM • $59 - $375 Microsoft Theater 777 Chick Hearn Court www.microsofttheater.com

Zendaya was one of the honorees at Elle’s Women in Hollywood event last month hosted in Los Angeles.

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Eye On Gospel and Gospel Worship Album of the Year: Heart. Passion.

Pursuit. (Live). Also scoring two awards was Donald Lawrence & the Tri-City Singers (Traditional Gospel Recorded Song of the Year: “Deliver Me (This is My Exodus) feat. Le'Andria Johnson)” and Traditional Gospel Album of the Year for “Goshen”. Aaron Cole was named (New Artist of the Year), and TobyMac (Contemporary Christian Artist), while Koryn Hawthorne’s Unstoppable CD was Contemporary Gospel Album of the Year. Lecrae and Zaytoven took top honors in the rap/hip hop category for Let the Trap Say Amen (Rap / Hip Hop Album).

Kirk Franklin Named Gospel Artist of the Year

Anthony Brown Gets His Second Wind

Kirk Franklin was among the top winners of the year at the 50thAnnual Dove Awards in Nashville. Franklin was named “Gospel Artist of the Year” for his latest project, Long Live Love. Franklin, who also scored with Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song of the Year (Love Theory) took the opportunity to address the recent shooting of Fort Worth shooting victim Atatiana Jefferson, the 28-year old mother who was shot and killed in her home by a policeman and her 8-year old nephew who witnessed the tragedy.

Later backstage he also shed more light on his upcoming Sony biopic stating: “It’s going to be real…a gully film.

It won’t be choir robes and prayer hands. There is redemption, but my journey was ugly, and I made a lot of mistakes.”

The Grammy winning singer added how important it was for him to show how God’s grace was transformative for him and kids that looked like him.

“It can’t be a pretty movie, because that ain’t my life…

If there was a real-life movie on David’s life, it would be a mess,” he said. “It wouldn’t be a cute, pretty Christian movie. It would be a hot mess. So, my movie is going to have some hot mess moments.”

Other big winners at the Dove Awards included Tasha Cobbs Leonard who took home two awards –(Gospel Worship Recorded Song of the Year: “This Is A Move Live)

Anthony Brown & group therAPy, have released their highly anticipated fourth album, 2econd Wind: Ready.

The 13-track set includes “Blessings on Blessings,” which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart over the summer; and the mid-tempo “Real” which features the Grammy® Award nominated artist, Jonathan McReynolds. The collection also boasts an appearance from Mary Mary’s Erica Campbell and HipHop artist 1K Phew on the cut, “He Always Wins”, as well as, a mesmerizing vocal performance from 20-year old rising star, Kelontae Gavin, on the title track 2econd Wind.

From meditative praise and worship to power bangers, 2econd Wind: Ready is an exhilarating mix of spiritually uplifting, healing, and rejuvenating songs.

“2econd Wind: Ready is my personal testimony of a time when I felt mentally exhausted and couldn’t find the strength to record in-between albums,” Brown said.

“Seeking God through prayer, I began to feel rejuvenated.

Through God’s grace, I received my second wind: a second wind to encourage and give hope lyrically, and to help the listeners take refuge, knowing that no matter how tired they might feel, if they continue to trust and seek God, He will grant you your second wind.”

2econd Wind: Ready was recorded live at First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD where Brown serves on the Music & Arts Ministry staff.

L.A. Focus/November 2019

RedCarpet Style

16

KELLY ROWLAND dons a gold embellished Nicolas Jebran design.

MICHELLE WILLIAMS in a Malan Breton look featuring a structured skirt.

Donnie McClurkin Gets His Praise On Multiple Grammy-award-winning gospel legend Donnie McClurkin continues to deliver heartfelt soul-stirring songs with the release of his new song “Pour My Praise On You”. Written by McClurkin, “Pour My Praise On You” offers a high energy response of gratitude to the faithfulness of God. “Pour My Praise On You” marks the third single released from the album which is set for release on November 15th.

Following the theme of hope, breakthrough, and encouragement the new track trails the moving singles “Not Yet” and “There Is God,” which are both also available with the album pre-order.

“I want you to hear these songs. I want you to be ministered to. These songs are different from any songs that I've written before. It's worshipful; it's something that everyone can sing along with. It's something that was birthed out of my relationship with God. Let God bless you through this new project,” says McClurkin.

In addition to the new project, McClurkin will celebrate his 60th birthday at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New on November 16th. The event will feature an all-star tribute concert with appearances from Kirk Franklin, CeCe Winans, Erica Campbell, Tasha Cobbs-Leonard, Kierra Sheard, and Jonathan McReynolds.

In other gospel news, two-time Grammy Award, NAACP Image Award and Dove Award-winning recording artist Jacky Clark-Chisholm of the Clark Sisters has inked a distribution deal for a new solo project set to release later this year.

"I am totally excited and humbled about this new venture with UAMG. I pray that my ministry continues to bless people, celebrate and feel good about where they are in their life," states Jacky Clark-Chisholm. "In the words of Mr. Tyler Perry... You must be able to dream it, see it, and most of all believe that God can bring all your dreams to fruition”.

The opening of Tyler Perry Studios, the first fully Black-owned studio, featured an impressive guest list composed of politicians, music superstars and Hollywood greats. Here are some of the looks from the event.

MONICA turned heads in an Alexandre Vauthier velvet gown.

TAMERA MOWRY HOUSLEY in an elegant blue gown.

AVA DUVERNAY wore a custom Greta Constantine high low look.

INSIDE HO L LY W OOD with Neily Dickerson “Harriet” “If I’m free my family should be too,” is one of the most powerful lines from the highly-anticipated Focus Feature film, Harriet. I know Black History month is in February, but everyone should round up the family to go get a history lesson in determination, endurance, leadership, and perseverance.

Played by Cynthia Erivo (WIDOW and Bad Times At The El Royale), “Harriet” takes the audience on the journey of the underground railroad to freedom. We meet Harriet with her family and the threat of another familial divide, that she is determined will not be their fate and she decides to “run” for freedom.

Along the way she receives guidance from an amazing cast of characters

who contribute to her path of freedom.

It begins with her father, Robert Ross, played by Clark Peters, who hands her off to, Reverend Green, por-

connects her to Marie Buchanon, played by actress and singer, Janelle Monáe. Like family, each of these individuals gives support as Harriet experiences her independence.

After living in freedom for several months, Harriet is not satisfied with individual liberty, and decides to go back for family members. Word spreads that she will do another “run” and a group of individuals hear about it and meet up with the group to make the journey.

Harriet is the amazing telling of a woman, that I never pursued to explore on my own and I’m embarrassed. But now that I’ve learned who she really was, I’m more proud than Hometown: Detroit, Michigan ever and am encouraged to learn even Big Break: Detective Misty Knight in “Luke Cage more about our-story and those who have helped us achieve true freedom. Current Projects: “All Rise”

Q&A

trayed by Vondie Curtis Hall, who makes sure Harriet is safe while in flight. From there she is told to look for William Still, played by Leslie Odom Jr., of “Hamilton” fame, and he

Simone Missick

DUE IN THEATERS THIS MONTH

American Son November 1

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

Harriet November 1

Cynthia Erivo To Portray Aretha Franklin The cast for the next installment of National Geographic’s popular anthology series which will center around Aretha Franklin is continuing to take shape.

Cynthia Erivo, the Tony, Emmy and Grammy winning artist and actress most recently seen portraying the heroic abolitionist Harriet Tubman in “Harriet” has been cast as the Queen of Soul.The series will explore Franklin’s musical genius and incomparable career, as well as her impact and lasting influence on music and culture around the world.

Kanye West Gospel Album

Releases

Kanye West’s long-anticipated gospel album “Jesus Is King” was finally released late last month. The new album is West’s ninth studio album, but it marks the ushering of a whole new era for the American rapper, focusing on Christianity and gospel.

There are no explicit lyrics or explicit guest verses.

“This album has been made to be an expression of the gospel and to share the gospel and the truth of what Jesus has done to me. When I think of the goodness of Jesus and all that he does for me, my soul cries out,” he shared.

The new album was

Waves November 15

21 Bridges November 22

accompanied by the release of a concert film with the same name. West also brought his famous ‘Sunday Service’ to The Forum in Inglewood for the first show since the album was released.

While the album has received mixed reviews, West remains steadfast in his new commitment to Christianity and proud of his new work. The rapper hinted that his Sunday services will serve as a pillar to the upcoming “Jesus Is King” tour.

chose to sing it... I later learned that a tweet inspired the meme. The creator of the tweet is the person I am sharing my success with…not these men.

Period.”

Lizzo’s lawyer added that a lawsuit has been filed in federal court in California to establish that the brothers are not entitled to any credit.

Lizzo Shares Writing Credits With British Singer, but Files Lawsuit to Block Two Others

A total of fourteen women have now come forward to accuse actor Cuba Gooding Jr. of unwanted touching and advances in bars and clubs. The accusations display a clear pattern of “routinely” approaching and abusing women in bars, according to prosecutors.

Gooding Jr. has since turned himself in to the NYPD and now faces four new misdemeanors including the two original charges: one count of forcible touching and one count of sexual abuse in the third degree. Gooding was originally arrested after an alleged groping incident in June. A total of six charges related to three different accusers have now been filed.

The additional allegations, prosecutors say, refute Gooding’s claims that the three incidents are innocent, accidental or consensual.

On the Home Front, Neicy Nash has confirmed that she and her husband of eight years, Jay Tucker, are splitting, posting this on social media: ““We believe in the beauty of truth.

Our truth is that in this season of our lives, we are better friends than partners in marriage,” the statement read.

“Our union was such a gorgeous ride.

And as we go our separate ways now, we feel fortunate for the love we share — present tense.”

Lizzo’s hit song ‘Truth Hurts’ has tied the record for the most weeks at No.1 on the Billboard Hot 11 for a rap song by a female artist even as the credit controversy surrounding the song continues.

Two brothers have recently come out and claimed that neither of them was ever contacted about being credited for the portions of a song they allege they wrote with Lizzo in 2017 named “Healthy” that was used in “Truth Hurts,” and that several attempts to solve the matter privately failed. In 2018, another musician Mina Lioness vented on social media that she could not “get over how brazen Lizzo and her team have been in ignoring my whole presence.”

In a recent Instagram post, Lizzo had this to say: “In 2017 while working on a demo, I saw a meme that resonated with me…The men who now claim a piece of Truth Hurts did not help me write any part of the song. They had nothing to with the line or how I

Cuba Gooding Jr. Turns Himself Into NYPD, Faces New Sexual Misconduct Charge

Born in Detroit, Michigan, Simone always knew she was meant to perform. Growing up, Simone spent years playing the violin, singing, and playing sports before she decided to focus on acting. While in her first year as an English major at Howard University, she decided to take a theatre for non-majors course. This class solidified her commitment to acting, and she graduated with a minor in Theatre arts. Following graduation, Simone traveled to Oxford, England, where she participated in the British American Drama Academy taking Master Classes with greats Ben Kingsley, Alan Rickman, and Jane Lapotaire. She then honed her craft performing in regional theatre in Detroit, Michigan before packing it all up and moving to Los Angeles.

On being an advocate for her own character and developing her own voice...

Apparently, I have approached every role that I’ve had as if I was the lead of the show, and had a voice and could advocate myself with the writers and creators.

Cheo [Hodari Coker], who ran Luke Cage, would joke that I gave him the most notes. I was like, “Really?!

More than Mike? More than Alfre [Woodard]?” I was like, “ I just thought that was how we do things. Isn’t this like theater?” I have always brought that to every role that I’ve had the fortune of playing. I’ve had that agency, in order to say to my writers, “These are my thoughts. What are your thoughts?” We’ve got an amazing team. Greg Spottiswood, our creator and EP, and Mike Robin, who’s our showrunner, have been making great television for a really long time. Greg approaches the work in a way where he knows the way that this show was supposed to sound and how these characters are supposed to be developed. But he doesn’t do that without the perspective that he is a white guy from Canada who doesn’t know what it’s like to be a black female judge. Our room is very diverse, for that reason.

When you’re telling these kinds of stories, you wanna do at with a sensitivity and a reality to it, and I get the change to pipe up about it, but I have yet to need to pipe up about it. As much leeway as they might give me to be able to say something, I have yet to have to really say much of anything because they are just outstanding at writing these characters, truthfully and honestly.

On what drives her character Misty Knight in “Luke Cage’ I think Misty became a cop because she was disheartened by the way her community was being policed. And that's a special kind of human being who can look at the problem and say I'm gonna be part of the solution. I know I'm very dissatisfied with the way I see law enforcement in my community, but I didn't go off and become a cop. I went off and became an actor who plays a cop on TV. So Misty, I think, is not morally perfect but she feels such a responsibility to her community and the people she's grown up around, and the people who she's watched die and not get justice served. That's what fuels her. With everyone there's lightness and darkness, and she has her moments.

On wether “All Rise” will tackle how minorities are often treated by the judicial system Simone Missick continued to page 24

ChurchNews Pastor Reginald Pope to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at Muscisians in Action Award Gala or 44 years, Pastor Reginald Pope has served the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church faithfully alongside his wife of 48 years, First Lady Juanita Pope.

His dedication and the impact he has had on his community will be recognized and celebrated this year at the Musicians In Action’s 27th Annual Awards Gala where he will become the first recipient of the Heart to Heart Lifetime Achievement Award. It is an honor that Pastor Pope is surprised and humbled by.

“I guess I’ve got a fairly good reputation out there,” he joked.

He joined Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in 1975 and was able to lead the church while navigating financial challenges the church faced in his first couple of months.

“With the help of the good Lord we worked it out,” he explained.

Since then, Pope appreciates the chances he has had to learn, share and identify with the community. It is a community that has embraced Pastor and First Lady Pope with open arms.

“We have gotten a lot of encouragement from people in the community who empathize with me and with what we’re doing here in Watts,” he said. “The rewards are innumerable. Any time a person comes to Christ and gets his life in better shape, that’s motivation, that’s encouragement and that’s fulfillment and what ministry should be about.”

The award is in direct recognition not only of Pope’s longtime service but also in recognition of the musicians that Pope has assisted and encouraged throughout the years.

Set to retire next July, Pope looks forward to travelling and perhaps teaching a Bible class here and there.

F

Williamson Appointed Senior Pastor At Christ Our Redeemer AME Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Williamson, is the new Senior Pastor of Christ Our Redeemer AME Church in Irvine, replacing Mark Whitlock who vacated the position in July when he was appointed senior pastor of Glenn Dale, Maryland-based Reid Temple AME. Williamson was formerly the senior pastor of First AME Church Las Vegas for 16 years. He served as the President of Faith Organizing Alliance and is actively involved in the Las Vegas community and is a member of the Las Vegas Chapter of the NAACP; the Ministerial Alliance of Southern Nevada; Churches of Southern Nevada; Nevadan's for Common Good; the North Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce; President of Board of Directors for Colors of Lupus of Nevada; CLUE/LV (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice); and the founder of Focus Urban Development Corporation and Focus Inc...In other local church news, Roshod Hall was appointed senior pastor of People’s Independent Church of Christ. Hall, a native of Los Angeles and graduate of Cal State Dominguez Hills and Ministerial Training Institute, had served as executive pastor at God Inspired Worship Center in Los Angeles.

Compton Church To Open Dignity Center

L.A. Focus/November 2019

Crossroads United Methodist Church Lead Pastor Adrienne Zackery is reporting that more than one hundred city, community and faith leaders are expected to take part in the opening of the Crossroads Dignity Center. The ribbon-cutting, dedication and facility tour will take place Sunday, November 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. on the campus of Crossroads UMC in Compton.

The newly remodeled space will be a place for the Compton Community to come and receive hope, restoration, support services and resources. “This is a place for transformation, healing and connection, said Zackery. “When Dr. Lydia Waters initially envisioned a place that would feel like home for people who needed direction, and a hand up or guidance, it became my mission to see it through,” she said.

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continued to page 22

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center Consolidated Plaza: 3725 Don Felipe Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90008 Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org Bishop Craig A. Worsham, Founder & Senior Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:00am Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 566.5286 Pastor Reginald A. Pope Sunday School: 9:30am Morning Worship: 8am • 11am Children’s Church: 11am (2nd/4th Sundays) Evangelism Training/Bible Study/Independent Prayer: (Mon): 7:29pm Mobile Prayer/Bible Study: (Wed) 11am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm Bryant Temple AME Church 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 Pastor Dwaine Jackson Sunday School: 8:15am Morning Worship: 9:15 am Bible Study (Tues): Noon Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964

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

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

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

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

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

Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm

Please call for our Sunday School & Discipleship Schedule

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

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 • email:phbcoffice@yahoo.com www.pleasanthillbconline.com Bishop Sylvester Washington Sunday School: 8:30am - 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship: 10:00am Tuesday Night Evangelism Classes:6:30pm First Sun. Holy Communion during 10:00am Worship

Sunday Early Morning Worship: 8:00am Sunday School: 9:30 am Morning Worship: 11:00am Tuesday Prayer and Bible Band: 11:00am Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm Wednesday in the Word: 7:30pm The Potter’s House at One LA 614 N. La Brea Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (818) 763-4521 • www.tphla.org Sr. Pastor Toure’ Roberts

Praises of Zion Baptist Church (“Praise City”) 8222 So. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90003 (323) 750-1033 • F: (323) 750-6458 Dr. J. Benjamin Hardwick, Sr. Pastor

Sunday Worship: 9:00am, 11:15am & 1:00pm Thursday Midweek Service: 8pm

Early Morning Worship: 6:45am Educational Hour: 9:15am Mid-Morning Worship: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 7:00pm Sunday Morning Broadcast: 5:30am Live Streaming Sundays: 12:00pm http://www.pozlive.com

Watch Live: http://ttphla.org/watch-live/

Announcing

St. Matthew Tabernacle of Praise “The S.T.O.P.” 1740 West 59th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90047 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 56608, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 291-1115 • F: (323) 293-0471 Rev. C.Barry Greene, Pastor Sunday Worship Service: 8:00am PrayerLine: (Tuesday & Wednesday): 6:00am WordLine (Tuesday): 7:00pm ( (712) 775-7031 Access Code: 814352108) E: thechurchstop@yahoo.com pastorcbgreene@aol.com Second Baptist Church 925 S. Shamrock Ave., P.O. Box 478, Monrovia,Ca 91017 (626)358-2136•(626) 303-2477 Fax Church Office: Tue-Thur 9am -5pm e-mail:sbcmon925@gmail.com • www.sbcmonrovia.org Pastor Christopher A. Bourne, Sr. Sunday School: 9:45am-10:30am Sunday Worship Service:10:45am Prayer/Bible Study Wed.:10:45am & 6:45

SHOWCASE YOUR CHURCH ANNIVERSARY OR REVIVAL HERE

THE DR. GENEVIEVE SHEPHERD EDUCATOR’S SCHOLARSHIP A scholarship has been set-up in the name of the late great legendary educator Dr. Genevieve Shepherd former principal of the Tom Bradley Magnet School!

QUALIFICATIONS: High School Graduate MAJOR: Preferably Education GPA: 2.0 or better Financial need is evaluated Details to be given at the Dr. Genevieve Shepherd Scholarship Luncheon, November 16th at 11:00 a.m.

GET YOUR TICKET TO ATTEND NOW! DONATION: $65.00 CALL (310) 212-3978 OR EMAIL: info@aenonschooloftheology.com AENON SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY 21200 South Figueroa Street | Carson, CA 90745 | 888-212-3827 | 310-212-3978 | www.aenonschooloftheology.com

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

Park Windsor Baptist Church 1842 W. 108th St. Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 756-3966 • RevTerrellTaylor@sbcglobal.net Rev. Terrell Taylor Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Bible Study Wednesday: Noon & 7:00pm Communion: 1st Sunday at 8:00am & 11:00am

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

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

Price Chapel AME Church 4000 W. Slauson Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 296-2406 • pricechapel@sbcglobal.net Rev. Benjamin Hollins Sunday Worship Service: 10:00am Sunday School: 8:30am Power Lunch Bible Study (Wed): 11:00am Praise & Worship Bible Study (Wed): 6:30pm

with our

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY OFFER of just $199

For information, call 310.677.6011 Christian’s Community Center of Los Angeles 3960 E. Gilman Street,Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 597-3252 Senior Pastor Thom Washington Sunday Morning Services Sunday Morning Prayer 8:00am New Member’s Class 9:00am Sunday Bible Class 9:30am Sunday Morning Worship 11:00am Sunday Afternoon Services 4:00pm (2nd & 4th Sunday) Weekday Services WednesdayPrayer 6:00pm / Bible Study 7:00pm

Southern Saint Paul Church West Angeles Church of God In Christ 4678 West Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90016 3045 Crenshaw Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016 (323) 731-2703 • smbc@smbcla.org (323) 733-8300 Rev. Xavier L. Thompson, Senior Pastor/Teacher Bishop Charles E. Blake Corporate Prayer: 8:30am Sunday School: 8:00am & 10:30am L.I.F.E. Groups: 9:45am Early Worship: 8:00am Morning Worship Service: 11:15am Morning Worship: 11:00am Baptism & Communion (First Sunday): 4:00pm Evening Worship (North Campus): 7:00pm Pastoral Bible Study (PBS)Wednesdays:7:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm North Campus: Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am Worship Service: 8:00am www.westa.tv 11137 Herrick Av • Pacoima 91331 (818) 899-8031 st.paul@smbcla.org •“Loving People Making Disciples” St. Mark Missionary Baptist Church 5017 S. Compton Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90011 (323) 231-1040 • stmarkmbcofla.org Reverend Dr. Lovely Haynes, Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am Mon-Wed Corporate Prayer: 6:00 - 6:55 pm Monday Night Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Noon Prayer: 12 Noon Wed. Exposition of Sunday School Lesson: 7:00pm

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship: 7:30 & 10:30am Sunday Church School: 9:00am Radio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Wed. Prayer & Bible Study: Noon-7:00pm www.trinitybaptistchurchofla.org

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Israel Missionary Baptist Church - A Holy Spirit Filled Church 450 South Compton Ave, Los Angeles,CA 90011 Church/Fax: (323) 233-3295 or 3296 Website: www.Israelmbc.com • Email: israelmbc@yahoo.com Rev. Rodney J. Howard, Sr. Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:30am Sunset Service: 5:00pm Communion Every First Sunday First Sunday Men In Prayer: 8:30 am Pastor’s Bible Study Tuesday: 7:30pm

Lifeline Fellowship Christian Center In Altadena 2556 N. Lake Ave., Altadena, CA 91001 (626) 797-3585 • F: (626) 797-3233 • www.lifelinefcc.org Bishop Charles D. Dorsey Sunday School: 9:00am Early Worship (Glory Prayer): 8:00am Morning Worship: 10:30am Evening Worship (1st & 2nd Sun.): 5:00pm Wed. Bible Study: 7:00pm

Arise Christian Center In Westchester 6949 La Tijera Blvd. Suite C,Westchester, CA,90045 (310)568-8445•F: (310) 568-8430 • Arisechristiancenter.com Pastor Ron Taylor Morning Worship: 9:00am & 11:15am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Tuesday : 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer Sunday: 8am - 8:45am Thursday:11:30am-12:30pm

Resurrection Church L.A. 1135 East Janis St., Carson, CA 90746 Office Address: 1143 East Janis St., Carson, CA 90746 (310) 626-4864 •www.resurrectionchurchla.org

Victory Baptist Church 4802 South McKinley Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90056 (323) 231-2424• Pastor Dr. W. Edward Jenkins Sunday School: 10:45 am Morning Worship: 9:00am Bible Study Wednesday:Noon Radio Sundays: KPRO 1570AM: 9:00pm

Weller Street Baptist Church 129 S. Gless St, Los Angeles, CA 90033 (323) 261-0949 • F: (323)264-6601 • www.wellerstreetlive.com Pastor K.W. Tulloss Sunday School: 8:00am Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Tues. Bible Study: 6:45pm www.wellerstreetlive.com “We have not walked this way before” Joshua 3:1-6 Peace Apostolic Church 21224 Figueroa Street, Carson, CA 90745 (310) 212-5673 Suff. Bishop Howard A. Swancy

In Carson

Pastor Joseph Carlos Robinson Worship Services: 8:00am & 10:00am Bible Study Tuesdays: 7:30pm

Citizens of Zion Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 12930 No. Lime Ave., Compton, CA 90221 (310) 638-0536 • F: (323) 636-2080 • www.citizensofzion.org Rev. Bobby Newman, Jr., Senior Pastor; Rev. B.T. Newman, Pastor (Pastor Emeritus) Sunday School: 9:00am Morning Service: 10:45am Wed. Mid-Week Bible Study: 7:00pm First United Methodist Church Compton 1025 S. Long Beach Blvd • Compton, CA 90221 (310) 639-0775 • Fax: (310) 639-1161

Dr. Arnetha E. Inge, Pastor Sunday School: 10:00am Morning Worship: 11:45am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Noon Day Bible Class: 12:30pm Wed. Bible Class: 7:30pm

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

Pastor Profile: Lemuel M. Mossett III Church: Calvary Baptist Church (Santa Monica) How Long at Church: Six months Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Wife, Edwina; son Clarence and daughter Hallie

L.A. Focus/November 2019

Are you originally from Southern California?

Yes, I was born and raised in Southern California and went to high school in Gardena. I grew up in that area. I went to college here, Loyola University and Pepperdine University for a Master’s in Educational Psychology and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, Administration and Policy. I grew up in church here. My dad pastored Church of the Living God, Temple 44 on Western and Century and my grandfather was a pastor as well at Greater Bethany Baptist Church. So, I’m a local boy.

With your grandfather and your father’s positions and your upbringing, did you know you wanted to also be involved with church growing up?

Well, I don’t know that it was something that I had this immediate desire to be involved in. I was involved in music. I went to USC for piano as a young person and was trained there, but I also played in the church. So, over time, I was heavily involved in music ministry, both in and outside of church.

I ran a production company and produced a lot of secular artists as well and wrote a lot of music, but I had a constant connection with church and spiritual music and that was something that tethered me to the church. I did a lot of public speaking also and I got to the place where I felt that call on my life and really felt that I needed to publicly profess that as opposed to just, you know, speaking now and then. Everyone’s saying “Wow, you’re such a great preacher,” and me going, “Well, I’m not a preacher.”

So, at a certain point, I needed to acknowledge that reality in my life.

I wasn’t even really looking to pastor it just came, I would say, by the providence of God. My wife is a native of Santa Monica and her parents and grandparents are long embedded in that community. But she was not a member of Calvary. She was a member of the Phillips Chapel CME in Santa Monica. We knew people at Calvary and it just so happened that another pastor friend of mine sent me the interest that Calvary had and the news that they were in search of a pastor.

They had been for some years. My wife and I talked about it and she said, “You know, I think that might be good for you.” I prayed about it and Calvary and I started, I would say, courting each other and then one thing led to another and I landed there.

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You say that you had to accept that this was the path for you, do you remember what that moment was or that motivation?

I think I had a speaking event at True Friendship Baptist church where I had served as a minister of music there for 26 years. And I think it may have been a men's day program or something that I had been asked to speak at. And I had prayed that morning and I had kind of maybe come to this place of understanding that, "You need to publicly acknowledge this and if you are willing to do that you will be blessed beyond measure." And so, I don't know... I can't remember if it was before I started or after I finished that I made a statement that, basically, said exactly that. That I had prayed. I said that I would not do this again unless I publicly made an acknowledgment and, you know, there wasn't a dry eye in place and I felt, you know, really good about having made that statement. I will say this, that, you know there’re those who might that upon that confession, everything opens up and all things become great. And that's not exactly how things went, but that was a momentous occasion in my life.

You’re at True Friendship Missionary Church for 26 years and now find yourself at Calvary Baptist, which also has a long and rich history. How was that transition for you?

You know, I would say it was pretty smooth, but it was something that took place almost over a year. My application to Calvary was sent in March and after that, I went to preach there for two weeks in April. Then I continued to be asked back and it was not until September that they actually voted me in. I had been going there on and off.

Was there anything unexpected or challenges?

There were challenges in that Calvary had been to several years of challenging times. So I knew that my role was not that of a dictator, but my role was more of a person who could bring or elevate the realities of loving one another beyond whatever circumstances preexisted before I got there and letting go of some of the challenges and bitterness of whatever went on before I came and really rebuilding. I think you know, the membership that had, at one time, been, well over 1200 people, had dwindled down significantly and so they were a church that was really struggling to hold on to their identity and their viability. So there's a pretty serious amount of rebuilding that we're trying to do.

And what's probably different for me is that I'm trying to do that from the inside out as opposed to the outside in, so I'm really interested in building people. One thing that I hold to and that I tell them and everyone I see is that, "Churches don't grow. People grow."

You can have a church that has a lot of people in it, but they can be very immature people and it can look like, you know, you have a large church but no you just have a large group of people there.

It's when people grow internally that churches grow externally and exponentially. And so that's kind of been my mantra and where I live. I also kind of live more from the standpoint of, it's not what you say, but more so what you do. And so, you know, you can know all the scripture you want to know, but unless you're able to do those things unless you're feeding people and helping people and clothing people without judgment, you're really not doing what you truly say you believe in.

And so that's the kind of church that I seek to lead and that the kind of people that we are.

With that attitude of being an active person and being really involved in the community and trying to grow that way, what does that look like at Calvary?

We just had a really huge effort to share with the homeless and needy population in Santa Monica last month.

We're going to be doing that again. I have really partnered with the city a great deal, the city manager and city leaders on the homelessness task force to try to make a difference and make a real impact in the city. So it’s those things that I think are the fruits of the labor, the fruits of the knowledge, the fruits of the study, the fruits of the preaching, the fruits of the teaching, not solely, we can direct you to this area of scripture, but more so that we can do this area of scripture.

Are there other programs that you’re excited about?

I'm a member of the 100 Black Men of America. And our goal is, of course, mentoring young people. But I use all of the connections that I have. I'm also a principal of a middle school, a public middle school and so a lot of the things that I do, even through the church, I still connect and make available to the public. Just the last event that we had, I had some of my teachers there who were contributing and helping because my philosophy is you don't have to necessarily be connected to do good work. I think people can be driven by, you know, their ability to love and then,

Greater Zion Church Family 2408 North Wilmington Avenue, Compton, CA 90222 (310) 639-5535 • (Tues - Thurs 10am -4pm)

First Lady Files Leshia Brooks

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

Walking in the Spirit Ministries

Dr. Michael J. Fisher, Senior Pastor Sunday Worship: 8:00am|10:45am| 5:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12pm|7:00pm FB: GreaterZion IG: GZCFamily www.gzcf.us

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

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

In Gardena

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

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

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

In Hawthorne

Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00 am Sunday Bible Enrichment Class: 9:45am Mon.-Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Wednesday Bible Study: 12:30pm & 7:00pm Victory Institutional Baptist Church 4712 West El Segundo Blvd., Hawthorne, CA 90250 (310) 263-7073 • www.vibconline.com Pastor Richard Williams, III Sunday Morning Worship: 9:00am Sunday Evening Worship: 6:00pm Wed. Mid-Week Worship: 7:00pm Bible Study Tuesday: Noon & 7:00pm

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

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

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

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

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

Jacob’s Ladder Community Fellowship, inc.

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

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

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

In Long Beach

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

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

Family of Faith Christian Center 345 E. Carson Street, Long Beach, CA 90807 (562) 595-1222 • F: (562) 595-1444 Bishop Sherman A. Gordon, E.D. Min

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

Christ Our Redeemer AME Church In Irvine 45 Tesla, Irvine, CA 92618 (949) 955-0014 • F:(949) 955-0021 • www.corchurch.org Pastor Mark E. Whitlock, II Sunday Worship: 8:00am, 10:30am New Generation Praise Service: 10:30am Sun. Bible Univ.: 9:30am Tues. Interactive Bible Study: 7:00pm Wed. Pastor's Bible Study: Noon, 7:00pm Thurs. Bible Study: 7:00pm Fri. Singles Bible Study (1st Fri): 7:00pm St. Stephen Missionary Baptist Church 1720 N. Walnut Avenue, La Puente, CA 91744 (626) 918-3225 • F: (626) 918-3265 Pastor Tony Dockery

First Lady Leshia Brooks was raised in the church and knew, growing up, that she wanted to continue living her life surrounded by the kind of love the church provided.

Leshia Brooks was licensed to preach in 2002 and ordained as an itnerant deacon in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in 2005.

As First lady of Walking in the Spirit Ministries, she has dedicated her life to living a godly and Christian life and spreading the love of Jesus to anyone she meets, even if she’s just standing in line at the grocery store or waiting at a drive-thru.

She considers herself to be a people person and with her husband of 23 years, Pastor Tim Brooks, has committed herself to changing lives.

“I have so many goals,” she shares “but I hope to keep reaching those that are lost.”

She recognizes that just being able to reach one person with her message can make all the difference. From 2004 through 2007 she served as Co-Director of Free N One substance abuse ministry at Bryant Temple AME Church and currently, Walking in the Spirit Ministries provides free breakfast to anyone in need before services.

“You never know what someone’s going through,” she explains. “But healing is a process that you have to go through. Sometimes the load is a little too heavy but God is still right there.”

The Brooks pride themselves in having established a “loving church” and First Lady Brooks hopes to continue supporting her husband and “reaching more souls.”

In La Puente

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

Sunday School: 8:00 am Morning Worship: 9:00 am

Gospel Memorial Church of God In Christ 1480 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 (562) 599-7389 • F: 562-599-5779 • gospelmemorial@aol.com Bishop Joe L. Ealy Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Evening Worship: 6:30pm Wed. Intercessory Prayer: 7:00pm Wed. Pastoral teaching adults: 7:30pm Wed. Youth Ministry Boot-Camp; Youth Bible Study: 7:00pm & Choir Rehearsal: 7:30pm

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Michael W. Eagle, Sr. Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Annointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Were all receive a little attention, affection and love.

From the Pulpit of: Mt. Sinai Church “God Can Deliver You”

L.A. Focus/November 2019

Thirtyminutes or it’s is free. This was the guarantee made by Domino’s Pizza when they promised to deliver customers’ pizza within 30 minutes or the pizza was free. The campaign abruptly ended in 1993 because the company could not consistently keep its promise.

What Domino’s could not do, our God can. This is the message of Psalm 126. The psalmist thinks and testifies about God’s past deliverance. Then he trusts and thanks God for future blessings.

How do you handle moments of despair, when life gets you down and troubles arise? This sermon aims to cultivate this spiritual resolve: “I will trust in the Lord, until I die.” Psalm 126 details two perspectives that prove God can rescue your lost hope: (1) look back at God’s deliverance and (2) look forward expecting God’s deliverance. God may not always deliver us, but He always has the ability.

Psalm 126:1 records, “When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.” The psalmist reminisces on God’s past restoration of His people. Focusing on the wrong things of the past could stagnate you. Nonetheless, looking back with the right reason and perspective can serve as an ally.

The former time of God’s restoration fuels the author’s faith. This most likely referred to when God brought the Israelites out of captivity the evil political dictates. Three such formal returns are recorded in the Old Testament, led by Zerubbabel, Ezra, and then Nehemiah. The psalmist credits God who used these godly men and the military force of ungodly kings. The heart of the king is indeed in the hand of God. This is a reminder that God can use even a foolish president, governor, or mayor to orchestrate deliverance of His people.

Plus, even “good people” are flawed people; God uses us despite us.

The shock of this past deliverance is compared to a dream. I love it when God blows my mind! God was so good to His people that they had to pinch themselves to see if it was real.

Recently, I was saddened by a report that only onethird of today’s young adults (ages 18-35, in 25 countries) feel deeply cared for. They feel the impact of global trends more than they feel loved and supported by others close to them. Anxieties about decisions, uncertainty about the future, fear of failure, and pressure to be successful are widespread.

This article was a chilling reminder that sex, drugs, alcohol, secular music, money, social media likes, and other fleeting pleasures will not satisfy. People need the church and her bloody Savior. We cannot take the church out of the church but we must be willingly to bend in some areas without breaking from sacred pillars. There must be a forceful fight to always pronounce, Jesus saves and He is the only way to God. We do this through a holy reflection on what God has already done. Our rich history of faith that took us from the slave trade, slave ship, trading blocks, cotton fields, war grounds, back seats, and lynching trees -- all the while singing, “amazing grace.”

Now we’ve made it to the White House, billionaire club, millionaire gang, degrees ranging from BA to JD, and more! Yet, we’ve exchanged church and God for brunch, sports, sleepovers, sleep-ins, proms, SAT Prep, side jobs and the latest celebrity events. Don’t make God pull the rug from under you. He did it to the Israelites and in Psalm 126:1, they reflected on how God restored them from punishment.

Psalm 126:2, 3 records two reactions to this deliverance: “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, ‘The Lord has done great things for them.’ The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”

Can other people hear you praise God? You don’t have to break a pew, but you can say at the doctor’s office, in the breakroom, in the unemployment line, at a graveside, in the courtroom... if it had not been for the Lord on my side. And surely, on Sunday morning you can say, this is the day that the Lord has made!

In Psalm 126:3, it is possible that the psalmist sees clearer God’s goodness after others saw it. We often miss God’s favor until someone else, even a nonbeliever, points it out.

There are two movements here: the plea of the people for deliverance and the promise of the prophet of deliverance. God’s Word reads, “Restore our for-

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

Walking In The Spirit Ministries Double Tree (Sonoma Grill) 13111 Sycamore Drive, Norwalk CA 90650 (213) 248-6343 P.O Box 1597 Norwalk CA,90651 Tim & Leshia Brooks Morning Worship: 11:00am Services Held Every 2nd & 4th Sunday and Free Breakfast Is Served Bible Study: 8:30am (Every 5th Friday)

Morning Star Chrisian Church In Pasadena 980 Rio Grande Street, Pasadena, CA 91104 *Mailing Address: 1416 N. Mentor Ave. Pasadena, 91104 (626) 794-4875 • F: (626) 794-7815 Pastor W. Harrison Trotter and First Lady Ranza Trotter Sunday School: 8:30am Sunday Worship: 10:00am Bible Study Wednesday: 7:00pm Intercessory Prayer (Fourth Wed.): 7:00pm Christians Uniting To Make A Difference -Eph. :13

tunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negeb!” The past can teach us how to avoid past mistakes and remind us of stability during unstable times, thus leading us to pray for a divine sequel. The psalmist longs for more from God. The release of God’s people is not enough. There are times when you need another touch from God. It reminds me of the blind man that Christ Jesus healed in Mark 8:22-26. After He spit on his eyes and laid His hands on him, He asked, “Do you see anything?” The man looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” Then Jesus laid His hands on his eyes again. His sight was restored and he saw everything clearly. Anybody need God to touch them again? Maybe that’s why you’re in church AGAIN! Negeb in the text is a desert region south of Judah. The dry riverbeds would suddenly turn into rushing streams following heavy rainfall. It represents a sudden change of fortune from bad to good. The dry places of our life can overflow in riches when God allows the rain of His favor to pour in. Psalm 1:1-3 also helps us with this by asserting that the blessed man who delights in the Lord’s law is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season.

Psalm 126:5, 6, declares words of comfort that produce confidence in believers’ hearts. The seed has been sown in tears, but God has used the sower’s tears to fertilize the seed in the ground of faith and produce an excessive harvest.

Where is your seed? We cannot miss the companion of tears. When life gets the best of us, we are not to fold up our tent and go home. I Corinthians 15:58 declares, “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” Galatians 6:7-9 declares, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

The great exchange did not happen on the same day.

There is often an extended amount of time from sowing to reaping. “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

E v e n Pastor George Hurtt

First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Pasadena 1700 N. Raymond Ave, Pas, CA 91103•(626) 798-0503 admin@famepasadena.org•www.famepasadena.org Rev. Dr. Larry E. Campbell Sunday Worship Service: 8:00 am - 11:00am Church School: 10:00am Wed’s: • Sunrise Prayer Service: 5:30am • Hour of Power Bible Study: 10:30am • Sunset Prayer Service: 6:00pm •Evening Bible Study: 7:00pm Third Saturday Bible Study: 10:00am Children Ch 1st, 2nd, 4th Sun: 8 & 11:00am First AME Church Santa Monica In Santa Monica 1823 Michigan Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404 • (310) 450-0331 F: (310) 450-4680 Rev. Reuben W. Ford, Pastor Sunday School: 9:30am Sunday Worship: 11:00am Bible Study/Prayer Meditation: Thursday 6pm “The Church In The Heart Of The Community with The Community at Heart” Email:famecsm@verizon.net Facebook: First AME Church Santa Monica Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Paul A. Hill, Interim Senior Pastor Sunday Morning Worship: 8:00am & 11:00am Sunday Radio: KJLH 102.3FM at 11:00am Sunday School: 9:30am (Children/Youth) & 9:45am (Adult) Bible Study: Every Thursday 12:00pm

youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

(Isaiah 40:28-31) Just wait on God; He can deliver you!

Larry Elder continued from page 7 impeachment as a "partisan lynching." When asked about the apparent hypocrisy of slamming Trump for using the same lynching rhetoric he once used, Biden apologized for using the word "lynching" in the case of Clinton. But Biden argued that when Trump used the word, he did so as a "dog whistle," meaning Trump did it to fuel his supposedly racist political base.

Biden said: "I apologize for it then, and I apologize for it now. The fact of the matter is it shouldn't be used at all, but the encouragement of white supremacists, which (Donald Trump has) done his entire presidency, that's what I was responding to. Because that's what it was. It was like a dog whistle ... he's done it throughout -- from Charlottesville on."

Note that Biden, once again, mischaracterized what Trump said about Charlottesville.

So, when President Trump gets reelected, get ready for four more years of Democrats' double standards and selective outrage.

Larry Elder is a bestselling author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host. To find out more about Larry Elder visit www.LarryElder.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Derecka Purnell continued from page 7 help police arrest anti-fascist protesters in Portland, Oregon, while law enforcement sympathizers have repeatedly rammed their cars into peaceful protests against police violence and ICE. And Trump’s imaginary victimhood is especially dangerous. He has encouraged the perception of victimhood among white nationalists in particular. He famously called white nationalist protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia, “very fine people” after one murdered counterprotester Heather Heyer. Online, in the press room, and at rallies, he frequently fuels the imaginary fears of an immigrant “invasion.” His campaign ran thousands of online advertisements that warned people like Patrick Crusius that they were under attack from an outside, illegal enemy.

Crusius opened fire on dozens of people at a Texas Walmart on an August morning this year. Twenty died.

Crusius ignored the massive policing apparatus that exists to surveil and police immigrants and decided it was up to him to stop the “Hispanic invasion of Texas.” He imagined he was the victim.

This was a mass lynching. And Trump roused the rope.

As long as he continues to feign victimhood, people will defend him by attacking people of color, immigrants, poor people, and people of faith. Hate crimes have already risen astronomically since his election. But there is no strange fruit at the White House. Just rotten ones.

Derecka Purnell is a human rights lawyer, Harvard Law School graduate, organizer and writer.

NCAA continued from page 6 for college athletes who also play on national teams, and using some of the earnings to start a relief fund for injured players.

And a new startup basketball league, the Historical Basketball League, hopes to market itself as an alternative to the NCAA, paying college players salaries along with scholarships to play on independent teams in eight East Coast cities, The Los Angeles Times reported.

The NCAA had originally billed the recommendations filed by a working group to the board of governors Tuesday as a “final report.” But they now seem more likely to serve as a launching point for an internal NCAA discussion that will carry on at least until next spring.

Drake, a former chancellor at the University of California at Irvine who now serves as president of Ohio State University, called Tuesday’s announcement “a natural extension of the numerous steps NCAA members have taken in recent years to improve support for student-athletes.”

Those reforms –prompted in part by a landmark lawsuit filed by former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon –include allowing athletes to receive unlimited meals and scholarships that cover up to their full cost of attendance.

But the details of even those rules continue to be contested: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, for example, wasrecently fined, placed on probation and had some of its wins strickenfrom official NCAA records after officials with the association said it had given players excessive allowances to buy textbooks. (The university is appealing the sanctions.)

CalMatters.org is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

Game Changers continued from page Cummings could be seen walking among residents, bullhorn in hand, attempting to ease unrest and encourage peace.

“We came here because we love you,” he famously said after urging protesters to go home ahead of city curfew. He also gave an impassioned speech at Gray’s funeral promising justice and while addressing news cameras present at the funeral asking, “Did anyone recognize Freddie when he was alive?”

The spotlight once again turned onto Cummings with the election of President Donald Trump. It was clear from the start that Cummings would grow to be a consistent and devoted thorn in the side of the Trump administration. He continuously fought to acquire Trump’s financial records and only weeks before his death, an appeals court upheld his committee’s subpoena for Trump’s tax returns.

“Mr. President, you’re now 70-something, I’m 60-something. Very soon you and I will be dancing with the angels. The thing that you and I need to do is figure out what we can do – what present can we bring to generations unborn?” he recalled telling Trump in a conversation.

Cummings was targeted by Trump in July after describing the Trump White House and its immigration policy as inhumane, the President began a weeklong series of tweets that attacked Cummings and Baltimore, which Trump referred to as “rat and rodent-infested.” Without naming the President, in August he called on top government officials to stop “using racist language and encouraging reprehensible behavior.”

Yet, despite his sour relationship with Trump, Cummings was remembered as a reliable ally of Republican lawmakers with strong cross-party instincts, always seeking

to work on legislation that would benefit because this one person is important. Their those he served. life is important, and I cannot take that for His historic legacy continued even after granted.” So this show definitely deals with his death, becoming the first African- the economic and the racial disparity withAmerican elected official to lie in state in in our justice system, and tackles it headthe Capitol. Former Presidents Barack on.

Obama and Bill Clinton, Speaker of the Pastor Profile continued from page 20 House Nancy Pelosi and former Secretary you know, within that context, it means of State Hillary Clinton all spoke and cele- you can share gospel to them and that's brated a man who left a lasting and power- what it's about. That it's not about just sitful impression after 40 years of public serv- ting and knowing something, but more so ice. His funeral, held at New psalmist about being very active and bringing that Baptist Church in Baltimore where cum- to life. mings was a member for roughly four decades, was the culmination of three days What would you consider are your goals to of tributes to the late Congressman. be looking forward? What does Calvary look “There are no words that are sufficient in like? describing the immense sorrow I feel fol- I want us to grow exponentially. I want us lowing the passing of my dear colleague to serve our community. I want us to be and friend,” said Rep. Maxine Waters in a impactful on the world, both politically, statement shortly after Cummings’ death. spiritually, and emotionally in every way.

“Elijah Cummings fought the good fight, We seek to find ways that we can be helpand his legacy represents an unwavering ful. You know, our efforts with homelesslove for his community and a tireless com- ness abatement, and turning people's lives mitment to public service. He was and around has become something that we're always will be remembered as a beacon of truly focused on. We really seek to be a truth and light in the face of unprecedented partner in the community and do God's lies and corruption.” work based on our impact, based our presIn the wake of his death, widow Maya ence, and not simply being the church that Rockeymoore Cummings, head of you can go to hear a good sermon or you can Maryland’s Democratic Party, is mulling a go to hear good music, but a church that run for the seat held by her late husband. you go to to depend on people who not simply state their faith but are active in their Simone Missick continued from page 17 faith, that feed and clothe and support and One hundred percent. In the pilot we see a comfort and whatever is needed is willing young woman of color, who is not from a wealthy family, not even from a middle- to give because I really believe that it's not class family, from a working-class family, by our knowledge that people would come who is being prompted to plead out to to Christ, but by their understanding that something that, from the outside, it looks there are truly good people who are left in like she did not do. And even though this is the world who based on their faith, based an assembly line, that we have to get on their commitment to Christ, are willing through case and case and case [in order to do the things that it takes to support for the system to run in a timely manner], humanity and make life better for everyLola says, “No. We’re stopping this train body.

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SavingGrace Tyler Perry ort McPherson is now home to Tyler Perry studios and with its grand opening, the prolific multihyphenate has become the first African American to own a major motion picture studio outright. The studio rivals the size of Burbank’s Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios and Paramount studios combined and will host the next Democratic debate and the Miss Universe pageant, reflecting a major power play from a man once ignored by Hollywood. A man whose growing entertainment empire has Hollywood taking notice.

“That studio was once a Confederate Army base,” he said during his acceptance speech for the Ultimate Icon honor at 2019’s BET Awards. “[It] meant that there were Confederate soldiers on that base, plotting and planning on how to keep 3.9 million Negroes enslaved and now that land is owned by one Negro.”

The grand opening of the studio further cemented Perry’s ongoing dedication to building his own table in an industry where he continues to feel ignored.

“My audience and the stories that I tell are AfricanAmerican stories specific to a certain audience, specific to a certain group of people that I know, that I grew up with, and we speak a language. Hollywood doesn’t necessarily speak the language. A lot of critics don’t speak that language,” he said in an interview with People magazine.

“But I know what I do is important. I know what I do touches millions of people around the world…I know what that does for the people where I come from and the people that I’m writing for.”

Where Perry comes from is a childhood witnessing and facing physical and verbal abuse from his father.

Perry first revealed his history of abuse when he was 40.

In an interview with Oprah Winfrey, the filmmaker opened up about his motivations to share his story.

“My intention was to free myself,” he said. “My mother was very ill at the time. I was told she had only a month or so to live, which turned out to be true. And I'd just turned 40. I was frustrated with so much in my life.

I had been carrying so much heaviness for so long and trying to smile my way through it. It was cathartic to write things down. That's what I do when I need freedom from something.” In his twenties, while still attempting to cope with his experiences growing up, Perry turned to episodes of the Oprah Winfrey Show.

His writing generated Perry’s first stage shows—letters to himself became the musical I Know I’ve Been Changed. The musical struggled for years to find success but in 1998, Perry would begin selling out venues and would gain a devoted African-American fellowship. While many other writers may have given up after years of failure, Perry remained faithful.

It is a faith he has maintained throughout his entire career.

“I try to write from a point of view with my faith being always present and always there,” he once revealed.

For Perry, his career and writing have been an opportunity to make others laugh and use that joy as a means to lead people to faith, forgiveness and fullness in

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The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose. I believe that.

Because I’ve seen it all work. I know for a fact if I had not been born to this mother, this father, this family, if I had not been born into this situation, then I wouldnt be here using my voice and my gifts to speak to millions of people.

God—including himself.

A self-described angry person for much of his youth, Perry turned once again to faith to release much of the negativity he had been carrying with him. He recalled attending church with his mother and was able to once again turn to God, faith and prayer. Through faith, Perry finally found peace.

“The Bible says that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose,” he said. “I believe that. Because I've seen it all work. I know for a fact if I had not been born to this mother, this father, this family, if I had not been born into this situation, then I wouldn't be here using my voice and my gifts to speak to millions of people.”

After an argument with his father Perry realized that his source of energy, his anger and resentment towards his father, was holding him back.

“I think the reason a lot of people don't want to have that kind of confrontation [with their own anger] is that once that anger is gone, you're faced with, "Do I continue to thrive on the negativity? Or do I make the shift into what is going to work for me now?" I had to make that conscious choice,” he said when recalling the moment. “I learned to surrender, which has been the most difficult thing I’ve had to learn in my life... Not my will, but His will be done,” he added in an interview with CBN. “If you don’t truly forgive, you hold yourself back.

You know the Bible says you need to forgive so that the Father can forgive you, which is totally what I believe.”

Perry would go on to write 13 plays over the next 13 years, firmly establishing himself in the world of theater. He turned to film in 2005 with his first move, Diary of a Mad Woman which premiered at number one in the United States.

Since then, Perry has been the creative force behind a total of 17 feature films, 20 stage plays and seven television shows. He is also a New York Times bestselling author.

His films have largely centered around the tough character of Madea, a “Godfearing, gun toting grandma”, whom Perry created and performs.

The character of Madea, for Perry, has been a way to celebrate and admire the strong black women he grew up

with. She is an ode and homage to his mother and aunt and while Madea is loud and brash she remains loyal and nurturing.

“My first ten movies were all about [my mother], subconsciously. Wanting her to know she was worthy, wanting black women to know they were worthy. You are special, you are powerful, you are amazing,” he said during his BET acceptance speech.

His films and the character of Madea have become a way to explore the role of the family often bringing conflict between family members before seeing reconciliation at the end. The plots are once again a reflection of Perry’s own life of navigating forgiveness. “ The purpose is to show that there is hope…,” he said in an interview with CBN. “No matter what situation you’re going through or how you’re going through it, there’s hope.”

While Perry’s films have been largely met with impressive box office sales and love from the audience, much of his work has often been slammed by film critics.

On the site Rotten Tomatoes, Perry maintains a median audience score of over 80% and a critic score under 40%.

At the grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios, Perry’s influence was perhaps best reflected by the star studded guest list that celebrated the event. Music superstars Ludacris, T.I., Usher, Diddy and Jay-Z, politicians like Stacey Abrams, Rep. Maxine Waters, Rep. John Lewis, and President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton; media figures CBS’s Gayle King, CNN’s Don Lemon, Tamron Hall and “The View’s“ Sunny Hostin; and award-winning creators Viola Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, Debbie Allen, and Ava DuVernay all mingled throughout the night.

Beyoncé shared being moved to tears throughout the night.

Another notable guest was Spike Lee. His attendance marked the end of a longtime feud between Lee and Perry. It was in 2009, in an interview with Black Enterprise, that Lee referred to Perry’s work as “coonery, buffoonery” and “troubling.”

"I would love to read that [criticism] to my fan base,” Perry replied in an interview a few months later. “It's attitudes like that that make Hollywood think that these people do not exist, and that is why there is no material speaking to them, speaking to us."

Perry surprised Lee at the grand opening by announcing that Lee was among the list of trailblazing black stars that the sound stages were named after. The other sound stages were named after Oprah Winfrey, Denzel Washington, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Sidney Poitier, Whoopi Goldberg and Cicely Tyson.

The tributes point to Perry’s dedication to continue celebrating and uplifting black Hollywood.

“God blessed me to be in a position to be able to hire them,” he said when remembering his role as one of the first to hire Taraji P. Henson and Idris Elba in films after the two “couldn’t get jobs in this town.”

“When I built my studio I built it in a neighborhood that is one of the poorest black neighborhoods in Atlanta so that young black kids could see that a black man did that and they could do it too,” he added.

“What I know for sure is that if I can just build this table God will prepare it for me in the presence of my enemies. Rather than being an icon, I want to be an inspiration,” he concluded in his BET speech.

Tyler Perry Studios will not only be home to new productions but it will also be the site for a new compound for trafficked women, girls, homeless women and LGBTQ youth who are displaced.

Courtyard by Marriott

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Los Angeles Westside 6333 Bristol Parkway Culver City, CA 90230