L.A. Focus Newspaper October 2021

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Upfront: Over 30 Past & Present Elected Officials Throw Their Support Behind Bass PAGE

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Hollywood Buzz: Cynthia Erivo Is One of Hollywood’s Hottest Commodities PAGE

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Upfront

Bruce’s Beach Returned to Black Family, So What’s Next?

With the stroke of a pen on September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 796 into law returning prime beachfront property in Manhattan Beach to the descendants of a black family that had it wrongfully been seized from nearly a century ago.....

Game Changer: Malia Cohen Makes A Run for State Controller

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contents

L.A. Focus Publications

October 2021

Left: Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas and wife Avis pose in front of The Avis & Mark Ridley Thomas Wellness Center. Middle: In attendance at the ribL-R: bon cutting cermony (left to right) Professor Cornell West, Rep. Karen Bass, Mrs Avis Ridley-Thomas, Mark Ridley-Thomas & host Marc Brown; Debbie Allen holding the Governors Award at the 2021 Emmy Awards. Right: Dwayne Wade & Gabrielle Union attend the Academy of Motion Pictures Opening Gala in Los Angeles

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4 Commentary

From The Editor Whatever Happened to Herd Immunity

I Hope Gov. Newsom Woke Up Thanking Black Women for Recall Results

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Hot Property; Cynthia Bailey Not Returning to Real Housewives of Atlanta; Finding the Real Will Smith

One On One

UpFront

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Bruce’s Beach Returned to Black Family, So What’s Next?; Over 30 Past & Present Elected Officials Throw Their Support Behind Bass; California’s Housing Crisis Rooted in Racist Zoning Laws; Omarosa Gets the Last Word

8 Headlines From Africa

On the Money Eviction Protections Expire and Rent is Due–What You Can Do

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Cover Story Still Got Questions About COVID? Well, We’ve Got Answers

staff

Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Staff Writers Photographer Advertising

Lisa Collins Gerald Bell,,Keith Delawder, Chez’Ney Hadley Ian Foxx Kisha Smith

Kelli Ferrell

Nikki Micheaux

14 GameChanger 15 Church News 16

How Domestic Violence Is Driving the Homeless Numbers Way Up Among Women

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Black film pioneer Melvin Van Peebles may have passed away last month, but his legacy lives on. A 50th screenMalia Cohen: “Making a Run For State ing of his groundbreaking Controller” film, “Sweet Sweetbacks’s Baadas*** Song” was recently held at the Ulmer Receives Coveted Blessing of the Elders New York Film Fest Award; Bless Your Pastor Movement Gains and a revival of Steam with “Pastor Appreciation Month” his play, “Ain’t Supposed to Die A Natural Death” is set to return to Osharye Hagood Broadway in 2022.

First Lady Files

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Bishop Charles Blake Bishop Noel Jones Pastor Michael Fisher Rev. Xavier L. Thompson Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer Pastor Emeritus Melvin Wade Pastor K.W Tulloss Bishop Robert T. Douglas Sr. L.A. Focus/October 2021

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Special Report

Battle to Lower the Skyrocketing Cost of Childcare Shifts into High Gear

Issa Rae Partners With AMEX & the U.S Black Chambers ByBlack Initiative; Shaquile O’Neal Partners iwth Alkaline 88

Academy of Motion Pictures Museum Gala

New Music from the Late Rance Allen; Deniece Williams Launches A Gospel Brunch, Says Latest Musical Project May Be Her Last

Money Matters

Biz News Briefs

Red Carpet Style Eye On Gospel

“Working Principles”

18 From The Pulpit of 19 21 In Good Taste Saving Grace 22 Pastor Profile

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Commentary

DR. JULIANNE MALVEAUX Guest Columnist

“I Hope Gov. Newsom Woke Up Thanking Black Women for Recall Results”

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hen California Gov. Gavin Newsom woke up on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, I hope he fell to his knees and said, "Thank you, God, thank you, Black women."

To be sure, there are many others to thank, from the energized Chicanx/Latinx community to the Democrats who surged to the polls at the last minute. Some of the more prominent who thronged to his side were Black women, including Vice President Kamala Harris, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Congresswoman Karen Bass, L.A. County Board of Supervisors member Holly Mitchell, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and California Board of Equalization member Malia Cohen.

Others included grassroots women whose names you'll never know but whose work was invaluable. They organized the get-out-the-vote drives. Street fairs. Voter awareness events in parks and playgrounds. They were determined that the recall effort would fail and even more determined when talk show host Larry Elder jumped into the race as the conservative favorite.

Those who worked for Gov. Newsom weren't necessarily his biggest fans, but they appreciated all the work he has done to develop a progressive agenda. They applauded his appointment of Dr. Shirley Weber as Secretary of State. They appreciated his support of Vice President Harris and President Biden. Despite his flaws and unforced errors, they appreciated his leadership on COVID matters (like the French Laundry debacle). And they turned up and turned out, although with laggardness that put the outcome of the recall in doubt, especially in mid-August when Elder was polling very close to Newsom.

Democrats ought to be ashamed that things got that close. In a state that has twice as many Democrats as Republicans, there should never have been a question about the outcome of the vote. Frankly, there never

should have been a recall election. But if Republicans can’t get their way the old-fashioned way (by winning), they’ll try the renegade way: by stealing. So, we were treated to allegation after allegation of voter fraud before a single ballot had been counted. We heard reports that some partisan poll-watchers were aggressively challenging voter signatures in the name of preventing fraud.

Republicans have been able to gain all these advantages because Democrats, in a phrase, have been sleeping.

President Joe Biden would be the first to assert that Black women made a difference in the 2020 election.

Women like LaTasha Brown, Melanie Campbell, Barbara Arnwine, and so many others crisscrossed the country, urging people to get out and vote. Sometimes it wasn't an easy case to make. President Biden has been in public office long enough to have a record that energizes some and causes others to cringe. Too many Black men (around one in six) believed the hype and voted for Trump. As hard as that is to understand, it is reasonable to note that

From the Editor

Black people are not a monolith, and we don't vote in lockstep. That makes the Republican embrace of archconservative Larry Elder (he would have given reparations to slave owners) all the more cynical.

Some Republicans see Elder as the new face of conservatism. Others see him as a Black man who can hoodwink Black people into voting against their interests.

One critic described him as "white supremacy in Blackface". She was kind.

Elder is coyly considering a gubernatorial run against Newsom in 2022. He may have some momentum, having garnered 46% of the votes to replace Newsom, but given that Californians soundly rejected the recall effort, will he have the numbers? His 46 % of the 37% who voted in favor of the recall amounts to a paltry 14 % or just one in seven votes. The California recall process distorts both the voting outcome and Elder's relative unimportance.

Still, Elder isn't going anywhere. The popular talkradio host is likely to use his electoral experience to expand his audience and ratings. And with the help of Fox News, he may multiply his base. There is little or nothing that Democrats can do about Larry Elder, but there is plenty that we can do about pushing a Democratic agenda.

Democrats, just do your work. Organize, strategize, keep the momentum going. Stop thinking that you have to "play nice" with Republicans because they sure ain’t playing nice with you. If you care about health care, education, clean air and water, economic justice, call it out.

And if you care about the political space in which we live, say thank you to the Black women who helped make it happen.

Dr. Julianne Malveaux is an economist, author, and Dean of the College of Ethnic Studies at Cal State LA. Reach her at juliannemalveaux.com

LISA COLLINS Publisher

“So, Whatever Happened to Herd Immunity?”

L.A. Focus/October 2021

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recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics has revealed that the life expectancy for Americans decreased between 2019 and 2020 by three years for Hispanics and 2.9 years for African

Americans.

No surprise as to the main culprit–COVID-19.

Many like to speak comparatively when citing such statistics, stating that for whites, it’s not as bad as it is for Blacks and Hispanics, but the simple truth is no one should be dying from COVID-19, particularly with the easy accessibility of vaccines.

For as much as COVID has been a headline story in our 24-hour news cycles for the last 18 months, there is still lingering misinformation as well as questions, so we dedicated our cover story this month to answer some of those questions.

To be sure, much of the information is changing and some of the news is good. Take, for example, the oral medications that are now in the works to treat COVID19 that could possibly receive emergency use authorization by the end of the year. Most are calling them gamechangers…a way for us to turn the page on this pandemic and all that goes with it, perhaps rendering the Coronavirus into a seasonal illness on the order of the flu.

For those who are wondering whatever happened to herd immunity, some doctors believe that some communities have achieved it which is why their rates are stabilizing.

In the meantime, we all still have to be vigilant about the vaccines and mindful about keeping those we love safe as most believe that COVID is with us to stay, albeit given the vaccines and promising new meds, it will indeed be a milder version. And then down the road there may be a new wave of therapeutics designed to block infection altogether, according to experts.

If you’re unvaccinated and thinking about waiting it out, doctors caution, ‘this virus will find you’, and as insurance companies are no long waiving co-pays and other fees for the unvaccinated, if you survive the virus, the medical bills are sure to put a hurtin’ on you.

Check out our cover story beginning on page 10 for answers to some lingering questions about COVID. You may be surprised at some of the answers.

In other news, Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB796, returning the prime beachfront property known as “Bruce’s Beach” to the heirs of the Black family it was illegally seized from in 1924 by whites and the KKK, righting a near century old wrong.

“It is never too late to address the injustices of the past,” said Senator Bradford. “As a member of the California Reparations Task Force, this is an example of what real reparations can look like.”

Stories like this make you think of all the hardships Blacks have had to endure and the remarkable faith and resilence that has sustained them. Kudos to this family–and those who supported them–for sharing their story and for fighting to reclaim what was rightfully theirs in face of so much resistance.

For more on this story, see page six.

And for those who didn’t know it, October is “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” and in the seventh in L.A. Focus’s eight-part special series on domestic violence, we look at how spousal and partner abuse contributes to the rising number of homeless on our streets.

Fifty-five percent of the women experiencing homelessness are survivors of domestic abuse and 90.8% have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

The recent murder of prominent Bank of America bank exec, Michelle Avan, at the hands of an exboyfriend serves as a reminder to us that domestic violence can happen to anyone. Fact is, more than one-third of women and one in 12 men have experienced intimate

partner violence in their lifetime.

While it is not something people like to talk about, there is something we all can do to help arrest domestic violence and that is to refuse to support the culture perpetuated in music, movies, games, on TV and on social media that glorifies intimate partner violence.

Full circle, if we’ve learned anything over the past 18 months, it is that life is short. Life is fragile. 700,000 souls lost their lives to COVID, many of them needlessly.

We are all blessed to be alive and should make the best of every moment. Live each day like it could be your last.

Oh, I know we’ve all heard those statements, swallowed up just as quickly as they are taken in, with the confidence that while another day isn’t promised, we’re betting it will come. Ah, but in the last year, things were altered beyond our wildest imaginations as life as we had come to know it, stopped. The future just as suddenly became uncertain and all bets on what the next day would bring were off, as the coronavirus pandemic threw the United States into uncharted territory.

So, if you're reading this, congratulations, you're alive and if that's not something to be thankful about, I don't know what is.”

Keep the faith.

(310) 935-3355

UpFront

News Briefs

“Bruce’s Beach Returned to Black Family, So What’s Next?

TINA SAMEPAY Contributor

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ith the stroke of a pen on September 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 796 into law returning prime beachfront property in Manhattan Beach to the descendants of a black family that had it wrongfully been seized from nearly a century ago.

“As we move to remedy this nearly century-old injustice, California takes another step furthering our commitment to making the California Dream a reality for communities that were shamefully shut out by a history of racist exclusion,” Newsom said.

In 1912, Willa and Charles Bruce, bought two beachfront parcels for $1,225 and established a resort serving Black residents. After years of racist harassment and violence by white neighbors and the KKK, Manhattan Beach city officials ultimately seized the property through eminent domain in 1924.

Eventually, the land became property of Los Angeles County after transfers between Manhattan Beach and the State of California.

In April, L.A. County Supervisors Holly Mitchell and Janice Hahn authored a motion to return the property to descendants of the Bruce Family.

State Senator Steven Bradford (DGardena) then introduced SB 794 as the first step in returning Bruce’s Beach– now worth an estimated $75 million– to its rightful owners.

One month earlier, members of Manhattan Beach’s mostly white community had expressed disapproval of the city offering the Bruce family a public apology at a contentious city council meeting.

“Concerned Residents of MB” paid for two full-page advertisements fighting back against what they referred to as a “woke” mob,” arguing Manhattan Beach did not deserve to be tied to a legacy of racism.

On Manhattan Beach council member even said the Bruce’s had been reasonably compensated, failing to mention that only a fraction of what little compensation the family requested was paid.

Governor Gavin Newsom is surrounded by elected officials and descendants of the Bruce family at the signing of SB796 into law But activists pushed back, determined to right the wrong.

“It was clear that this was wrong. The way it caught fire and people were attentive was very uplifting. We had a lot of support, said Patricia Bruce-Carter.

“Even though there were a handful of prejudices, other than that for the most part, the process has been positive.”

Bruce-Carter was quick to add that in fighting for something of this magnitude, public support was critical.

“It felt good to know that you are not alone in trying to fight for what is right,” said Bruce-Carter in her appreciation for the group, Justice For Bruce’s Beach, and all the supporters who rallyied behind her family.

“Kevon Ward, who started the group Justice For Bruce’s Beach, was very instrumental with boots on the ground,” says Bruce-Carter. They were very, very active. I believe their presence is a strong reason we were able to have a victory.”

Ward, co-founder of Where is My Land, works with numerous families, who are also seeking rightful ownership of their families land and legacy.

Also playing a key role was Demarco

Smith, an inspiring filmmaker and local historian who shared the story of Bruce’s Beach online through his research.

It was Smith who uncovered that in 1924, while a member of the City Council, Frank Doherty voted to condemn the two blocks where Black businesses were beginning to thrive along the Beach’s shore.

In 1945, the then former Manhattan Beach City Councilmember wrote an article in the Redondo Reflex newspaper entitled, “The Negro Problem,” where he described the meanest thing he ever did.

“There were several families in the blocks between 26th and 27th streets and between Strand and Highland,” Doherty wrote. “We had to acquire these two blocks to solve the problem, so we voted to condemn them and make a city park there. Our attorney advised members of the council never to admit the real purpose and establishment of the park, especially during the council meetings.”

Smith says he feels joy for the family and the victory of Bruce’s Beach, should spark a movement to find all the evidence needed to bring forth reparations Bruce’s Beach continued to page 20

Over 30 Past & Present Elected Officials Throw Their Support Behind Bass

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L.A. Focus/October 2021

ith a tweet at 9:02am on September 27, Congresswoman Karen Bass made it official that she was running for mayor of Los Angeles, and since the endorsements have been rolling in.

More than 30 current and former elected leaders have thrown their support behind the Congresswoman, including California State Senators Steve Bradford and Sydney Kamlager, L.A. County Supervisor Holly Mitchell, former U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer and City Councilmember Mark RidleyThomas.

"I'm honored to earn the endorsement of these esteemed leaders throughout Southern California at such an important time for our city, Bass said.

“Their vocal and legislative advocacy on behalf of their constituents is the hallmark of strong leadership. It will take all of us, together, to address the crises at hand -- but I believe with a strong coalition, we can bring about the change that we need to put this

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city on the right track as we recover from this pandemic.

Bass’ entry into the race was welcome news for a growing list of supporters that included a cadre of local and statewide coalitions, block clubs, city officials like Councilman Mark Ridley Thomas and Supervisor Holly Mitchell, faith leaders and celebrities.

“I love Karen Bass and it’s going to be a very exciting race”, said L.A. Mayor

Eric Garcetti. “I think los Angeles is going to have great choices.”

Those choices include City Councilmen Kevin de Leon and Joe Buscaino; City Attorney Mike Feuer, African American businessman Mel Wilson and businesswoman Jessica Lall, while among those rumored to be considering a bid include billionaire mall developer Rick Caruso and former LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner.

A recent poll indicated that Bass had the advantage of being the best known among the candidates and led with Black Angelenos and people on the Westside and South Los Angeles.

No one questions the qualifications of the L.A. native whose national profile rose with her chairmanship of the Congressional Black Caucus; her consideration as a vice presidential candidate

by Joe Biden; and her current leadership in the legislative reckoning over race and police violence.

"Our city is facing a public health, Bass continued to page 20

Omarosa Gets The Last Word in Legal Victory Over Trump One down. One to go, as an arbitrator has ruled in favor of Omarosa Manigault Newman in one of two cases prompted by former President Donald Trump.

In the decision to determine whether or not the former White House staff and Trump adviser violated an employee confidentiality agreement when she published her book, Unhinged, as well as in speaking engagements, arbitrator T. Andrew Brown concluded she had not.

Instead, Brown found the agreement to be invalid under New York contract law.

“Defining confidential information as ‘all information (whether or not embodied in any media) of a private, proprietary or confidential nature or that Mr. Trump insists is private or confidential’ is so indefinite that there is no way for [Manigault Newman] to know what information should be kept confidential under the Agreement,” Brown wrote in his decision.

“Clearly, I am very happy with this ruling,” Manigault-Newman stated. Donald has used this type of vexatious litigation to intimidate, harass and bully for years! Finally the bully has met his match!”

“We’ve won in Donald Trump and the Trump Campaign’s chosen forum,” adding attorney John Phillips, who represented Manigault Newman. “They now owe attorney’s fees.

Whether the Campaign tries to bankrupt out of this ruling or it energizes more people to come forward and blow the whistle on corrupt government, it’s a win we can all be proud of.

Kudos to Omarosa Manigault Newman for coming forward and taking this on.”

There was no comment from the Trump camp.

Congress Passes EQUAL Act to Eliminate Sentencing Disparities

STACY BROWN

NNPA Newswire On Tuesday, September 28, by a 143-16 vote, Congress passed the EQUAL Act to finally end the unfair sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine.

The bipartisan EQUAL Act would eliminate the sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine. It also would allow those currently serving time for crack offenses to motion for reduced sentences.

Under current federal laws, individuals caught with 28 grams of crack receive the same sentence as someone caught with 500 grams of powder cocaine, despite the American Medical Association’s findings that there is no chemical difference between the two substances.

Starting with the 1980s version of the “War on Drugs,” those caught with small amounts of crack — primary people of color — received decades longer prison sentences than those with powder cocaine — overwhelmingly white individuals.

According to Human Rights Watch, African Americans comprise 62.7 percent and white people 36.7 percent of all drug offenders admitted to state prison.

Federal surveys and other data clearly show that this racial disparity bears scant relation to racial differences in drug offending.

“There are, for example, five times more white drug users than Black,” Human Rights Watch officials wrote in a recent report.

“Relative to population, Black men are admitted to state prison on drug charges at a rate that is 13.4 times greater than that of white men. In large part because of the extraordinary racial disparities in incarceration for drug offenses.”

The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.

UpFront California’s Housing Crisis Rooted in Racist Zoning Laws

MARK HEDIN Ethnic Media Services

cross the country, with both state and federal moratoria on evictions for non-payment of rent set to expire September 30, more than 2 million adult renters are at imminent risk of eviction, 880,000 of them in California.

Carolina Reid, of U.C. Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation, cited these August findings by the Urban Institute at a panel convened by Ethnic Media Services on Sept. 14.

“We’re really in this ‘perfect storm’ where housing costs in the state are vastly outstripping incomes and COVID is promising to make the situation worse,” she said.

But there is currently no apparent political will to further extend eviction moratoria, she said.

Meanwhile, although the federal government this spring allocated $46.5 billion to provide rent relief to COVID-affected households -- enough to pay everyone’s outstanding debt two times over -- nationwide, only $6.2 billion has been disbursed.

California, through its Housing is Key (housing.ca.gov) program, has distributed 14.3% of its federal funding.

The program is available to both landlords and renters, who are protected from eviction while their cases are being reviewed.

Samir Gambhir, of UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute, addressed some long-standing, historical origins of the housing shortage.

One is zoning laws that allow only single-family dwellings to be built in certain neighborhoods. This limits the supply of new housing and increases costs as

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demand continues to outstrip availability.

The result is de-facto segregated neighborhoods.

The Institute’s research found that more than 80% of U.S. metro regions were more segregated in 2019 than in 1990.

For instance, in the San Francisco Bay Area, his research found that 82% of the residential-zoned land in San Francisco is restricted to single-family dwellings. In such areas, the occupancy is 55% white — as opposed to 36% white in low single-family-zoning areas.

Single-family zones typically have higher home values ($100,000, on average), higher median incomes ($34,000 higher, on average), half as many children qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch at schools — 26% vs. 52%, and higher home ownership rates.

In the United States, home ownership has long been acknowledged as a key path to intergenerational wealth.

“Cities with high levels of single-family zoning have greater resources in virtually every statistic we were able to measure,” Gambhir said.

“Where we live essentially determines our life outcomes.”

Homelessness rises almost in lockstep with housing unaffordability, Ned Resnikoff, UCSF’s Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, said.

Whites are 72% of the state’s population, and 54% of its homeless. Blacks, 7% of the population, have become 31% of the homeless. The ratio for the HispanicLatino population is 39%-32%; Asians 16%-2%; American Indian 2%-4%; Pacific Islanders 1%-1%. One of the root causes for this, Resnikoff said, is structural racism.

A lot of the rules that have led to housing being so unaffordable in California were part of a deliberate attempt to keep various communities in California mostly or exclusively white. Those include restrictive zoning rules, redlining, he said, and Article 34 of the state constitution passed in the 1950s that makes it significantly harder to build low-income housing.

“You can have single-family housing existing side-by-side with low income housing,” said Matthew Lewis, of Berkeley’s Yimby (Yes in my backyard), pointing to his own neighborhood’s mix of housing and income levels. But that diversity could not be replicated under regulations today.

He also described Los Angeles’ 1972 move to protect its “suburbia within the city atmosphere” by “downzoning” building allowed in formerly multiple-zoned

neighborhoods.

From being zoned for 10 million people, Los Angeles went to 4.1 million. “They cut the number of homes it was legal to build by half.”

Lewis also cited an Environmental Impact Report produced when San Francisco was making similar changes in the 1970s. It anticipated “possible displacement of certain types of households” and impacts on “the availability and cost of housing in San Francisco.”

“This happened throughout the state of California,” Lewis said.

But the problems now extend beyond zoning limitations, he noted. “Too many Californians now need subsidies which takes a lot of money.”

In California, Prop 13 in 1978 largely froze property tax increases on existing structures. But new homes pay a current tax rate when they come on the market.

“So, you need a huge number of marketrate homes to generate the revenues you need to subsidize the affordable homes,” Lewis said. “You have to have both.”

In a hopeful sign for more housing stock, California’s state legislature on Aug. 26 approved a measure that would allow for the construction of duplex buildings on land parcels previously zoned for only single-family dwellings, and also allow property owners to divide their parcels in two, possibly allowing for a second duplex. Gov. Newsom signed the bill into law on Sept. 16.

“While we’re so far behind, just allowing duplexes and fourplexes is an incredibly important step, but it doesn’t close the gap,” Lewis said.

HeadToHead “Working Principles”

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he Census Bureau has just their prime earning years. In conissued its latest annual America Is trast, individuals in lower-income report, "Income and Poverty Still Working U.S. households are far more likely in the United States: 2020," and than Americans in higher-income American Enterprise Institute economist households to be less-educated, working and blogger Mark Perry has extracted and part-time, either very young (under 35 summarized its highlights, as he does years) or very old (over 65 years), and livevery year. ing in single-parent or single-member Perry's work is always illuminating households." because the data shows how much healthWe get a much different picture here ier the country is socially and economically than the message that than anyone would believe who listens to politically correct the naysayers on the left, who want to woke culture, which transform America into a giant, socialist has attained such welfare state. influence over recent Contrary to what we hear from years, has transmitDemocrats and the left-leaning media, ted.

Americans continue to move up and earn Any individual's more. fate in America is Star Parker And those who don't fail to do so for rea- very much in their sons that are entirely in their control, as I own hands and the result of how much will explain later. personal responsibility they want to take In 2020, 33.6% of American households in their own life. had income of $100,000 or more, 40.3% Major factors that correlate with earnhad income between $35,000 and ing power – education, work, family – $100,000, and 26.2% had income of less start with personal decisions and personal than $35,000. responsibility.

In 1967, only 10.9% of American houseReaders might recall the incident I holds had earnings of $100,000 or more (in reported last year when my organization, constant, inflation-adjusted dollars). That CURE, posted billboards in various lowis, from 1967 to 2020, the percentage of income communities saying that if you American households earning $100,000 or want to get out of poverty – finish school, more has tripled! go to work and get married.

Compared with 1967, the percentage of Black Lives Matter protested and got middle-income earning households – the billboard company to remove our mes$35,000 to $100,000 – has shrunk, 53.9% sage. in 1967 compared with 40.3% in 2020.

That's not to say that there is not public The percentage of middle-income policy work that needs to be done. But it's households has shrunk because more not what we hear from the left. The work households have moved into the upper- to relieve poverty and improve upward income category. mobility is work that removes obstacles for The percentage earning $35,000 has individuals to take personal responsibility shrunk from 35.2% in 1967 to 26.2% in for their lives.

2020.

Obstacles like our union-controlled, Perry then drills down into the data government-controlled public school sysand looks at household income and house- tems. Parents should control their child's hold demographics to see how they corre- education, not government and union late. bureaucrats.

His conclusions: My organization, CURE, is releasing its "Specifically, high-income U.S. households first State of Black America report, pubhave more income-earners on average lished in partnership with the Claremont than lower-income households, and indi- Institute. viduals in high-income households are far The report points to the strength of more likely on average than individuals in American principles and points to cultural low-income households to be well-educat- and institutional obstacles that contribute ed, married, working full-time, and in to the perpetuation of poverty – too much Parker continued to page 20

Headlines From Africa Botswana: Botswana government officials estimate that the nation’s economy will grow at a rate of 4.3% in 2022, as the country emerges from the pandemic and reaps benefit of higher commodity prices. Diamond mining had accounted for a fifth of its GDP and more than two-thirds of its foreign exchange income before COVID-19 crashed diamond prices, which have now recovered.

Burkina Faso: Burkina Faso and Mali agreed last month to mount joint military operations against jihadist groups who’ve ravaged the “three borders” region, straddling the three countries. Since emerging in northern Mali, jihadists and the violence they’ve brought have expanded into Burkina Faso and Niger.

L.A. Focus/October 2021

Burundi: Government officials suspended social gatherings on weekdays to curb the spread of Covid-19. Social gatherings are however allowed on weekends. According to a statement, “The decision was made "because they (citizens) do not respect the measures decreed by the health authorities in the fight against the coronavirus. This has resulted in an increase in Covid-19 cases."

Eritrea: Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Salih blamed Ethiopia’s Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebels for provoking a “major war” in Tigray. He also accused the United States and its European allies of defending the “TPLF’s illicit and dangerous acts of insurrection and mayhem”. President Joe Biden threatened new sanctions last month targeting individuals he said were preventing a ceasefire and obstructing the delivery of humanitarian aid in war-torn areas.

Mozambique: Nineteen defendants—including Ndambi Guebuza, the son of former President Armando Guebuza, are now on trial for a corruption scandal that saw $2.08 billion in loans go to three state-owned com-

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s I stopped by a Dollar down and fewer workers in stores, General store on a Sunday The Dignity many folks are noticeably frustrated of Work afternoon around the end of and want things to get back to norAugust, to my surprise, it mal quickly. "Why aren't people was closed, and the sign posted on the front going back to work?" has been the main door had a frantic call for employee help. It question at the center of the contentious was handwritten on pink paper, probably debates in Washington on whether unemby an exhausted manager, asking all who ployment compensation during the pansaw it to tell their "mothers, fathers, sis- demic has made too many slothful. ters, brothers, aunts and uncles" that this Indeed, the $600 per week additional store was hiring. payments combined with state unemployAfter getting ment benefits did result in many over my initial disap- Americans receiving more money than pointment of not being they earned at their previous jobs, espeable to buy my bulk cially those who had low-wage positions in items of toilet paper the hospitality industry. Now that most and paper towels, states have cut off the extra unemployalong with grabbing a ment compensation, large numbers of peocan of Lay's Stax ple still are not reporting to work, and job Jessica Johnson Mesquite BBQ chips, I openings are not being filled. thought to myself, "this labor shortage One reason I believe that people are not really is serious." "Help Wanted" signs are applying for the new positions available is everywhere. We wait much longer in self- due to low wages that are not sufficient to checkout lines in grocery stores with often meet the fair market rent for housing in only one or two clerks manning these sta- major cities. For example, a recent report tions. We see shopping carts scattered from the Coalition on Homelessness and across parking lots and empty shelves in Housing in Ohio and the National Low the household and packaged goods sections Income Housing Coalition found that, in because certain shifts are stretched thin.

Columbus, most potential workers cannot When I'm in a grocery store and I see lit- afford to live here because nine of out ten tle things out of order, such as a misplaced of the most common jobs do not pay box of cereal or a condiment on the wrong enough. The report stated that the average shelf, I'll take the time to put these items renter in Columbus makes $16.99 an hour where they belong. Small gestures such as but would need to have at least a $19.83 this can take some of the stress off store hourly wage to afford the fair market rent associates who are working long hours. of $865 for a two-bedroom apartment. The It appears that we are going to be deal- conclusion was quite direct. You can't ing with labor shortages for a while as we recruit people to work if they will struggle are still grinding our way through the pan- to survive. demic. A July survey from the National People need to feel a sense of dignity Federation of Independent Business found and value when working. Ecclesiastes 3:13 that "49% of owners reported job openings comes to mind in these difficult times, that could not be filled, a 48-year record which says that every man "should enjoy high." NFIB Chief Economist Bill the good of all his labour; it is the gift of Dunkelberg explained that owners are God." Workers can't enjoy their labor if seeking qualified employees, but efforts to their jobs barely pay enough to make ends hire are being hampered by supply chain meet. I'm not an economist, but common interruptions. The disruptions in the sup- sense shows us that employers will have to ply chain have had an impact on all of us offer better wages and benefits to fill open since consumer demand for products and positions and get people back to work. If services is high. this doesn't happen soon, those "Help For me, simply shopping for a 13-ounce Wanted" signs may become permanent fixcontainer of Vaseline has resulted in tures. searching skin care aisles in Walmarts Dr. Jessica A. Johnson is a lecturer at Ohio between my commute to work from State University.

Email her at Columbus to Lima, Ohio. smojc.jj@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter: With the current supply chain break- @JjSmojc.

A look at current news from the continent of Africa panies that never resulted in any projects. The trial—being aired live on television—is the talk of the nation.

Namibia: Hundreds protested outside parliament in Namibia’s capital last month where an agreement with Germany was to be debated. Germany acknowledged it had committed genocide in colonial-era Namibia between 1904 and 1908 and promised a billion euros in financial support to descendants of the victims. It is an offer activists have rejected.

Niger: Amnesty International is reporting that an increasing number of children are being killed and recruited by armed groups in Sahel’s tri-border area in Niger .

Nigeria: The African Development Bank says that Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya and South Africa account for a third of the incubators and accelerators and 80 percent of investment in Africa.

Senegal: Senegal has completed reforms that will unlock a grant of $550 million from the U.S. to help build high-voltage power transmission lines, substations and boost access to electricity.

South Africa: South Africa’s top court has dismissed an application by the Electoral Commission to postpone local elections due on October 27, court documents showed on Friday. The judgement is a blow to the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which supported a postponement and has struggled to register thousands of councillors expected to contest the municipal elections.

Zambia: Sworn in last month as Zambia’s seventh president, Hakainde Hichilema is already making sweeping reforms in leadership with a new team of economic advisers, a newly-appointed cabinet and changing the top military and police officials. The professionally trained former accountant, who ran under the slogan, “Bally (rich father) will fix it”, will face his biggest challenge in tackling the nation’s debt crisis.

Money Matters Battle to Lower the Skyrocketing Cost of Childcare Shifts into High Gear

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ver 125 economists and public policy experts signed a letter urging Congress to include comprehensive investments in affordable, quality healthcare as part of any major economic legislation.

“For decades, American families and in turn economic growth have been held back by the lack of modern care infrastructure, as working families have been forced to choose between work and caregiving, hampering female labor force participation and reducing productivity,” they wrote in the letter published by the Center for American Progress. “Congress must seize this opportunity to finally support families and unleash economic growth.”

Last month, a U.S. Treasury Department report found that the high cost of childcare coupled with the lack of availability for many working parents was stifling economic growth.

Not surprisingly, COVID-19 didn’t help any. Across California alone, an estimated 8,500 licensed childcare centers have shut down since the onset of the pandemic.

Arguing that it would keep women in the workforce, Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said they wanted Congress to cut the costs of childcare by half for most families.

“Childcare remains too expensive and out of reach for far too many working families in our country. If we intend to fully recover from the pandemic, if we intend to fully compete on a global scale, we must ensure the full participation of women in the workforce,” Vice President Harris said.

Such policies, she added, could save the average family around $15,000 a year.

“The free market works well in many different sectors, but childcare is not one of them," Yellen said. "It does not work for the caregivers; it does not work for the parents. It does not work for the kids. And because it does not work for them, it does not work for the country."

Since the 1990s, child-care costs in the U.S. have grown at twice the rate of inflation. At just over $1,300 per month, families with infants would need to pay nearly $16,000 per year on average to cover the true cost of childcare, according to the Center for American Progress. Not only is this approximately 21 percent of the U.S. median income for a family of three, but it also comes at a time when families can least afford it. And in California the cost range for childcare is even higher, averaging between $21,400 and $37,300 per year for an infant.

An Economic Policy Institute report has found that the

On the Money Eviction Protections Expire and Rent is Due—What You Can Do

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cost of 40 hour a week childcare in California (and 31 other states) is greater than the average in-state tuition for a four-year public college.

Although federal guidelines require states to set payment rates at a level intended to provide access to a majority of providers within the childcare market, only one state, Maine, sets rates at the federally recommended level as of 2020–and even then, rates are still based on the broken market, which fails to account for true cost of care.

At present, the primary public funding source for childcare is the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), authorized by the Child Care Development Block Grant Act, or CCDBG. The federal and state partnership program provides funds intended to help eligible families access childcare through subsidy vouchers paid to the provider for an eligible child. However, the lack of funding means this program reaches only 1 in 7 eligible children, and many families who need support paying for childcare do not meet the eligibility criteria.

President Joe Biden has proposed $225 billion for childcare as part of his 10-year, $1.8 trillion American Families Plan. The funding includes childcare subsidies for lowand middle-income families, universal prekindergarten for children who are 3 and 4 years old and expanding Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits. Those parents making the least – under 75% of the state median income –

n September 30, time ran out on those tenants who were benefitting from eviction protections as the California State Legislature ended its session without extending rent relief. A recent analysis found that about 753,000 families were behind on their rents and owed a cumulative $2.8 billion.

Beginning October 1, landlords can file evictions for nonpayment of rent. There are, however, things financially strapped renters can do.

Within 15 days of receiving an eviction notice, renters must return to their landlord a declaration of COVID-19 related financial distress form. (Landlords are required to provide the form to you). Supporting documentation may be required if your annual income is more than 130% of the median household income in L.A. County and is more than $100,000.

Even with the form, you will have to have paid at least 25% of your monthly since September 1, 2020 or the entire past due amount by September 30, 2021.

People making less than 80% of their area median income who were financially affected by COVID-19 can still apply of missed rent and stave off eviction. They can also apply for an additional three months of rent moving forward as well as utility bill assistance. (Visit housing.ca.gov for more information).

Keep in mind that it is against the law for your landlord to lock you out or shut off the utilities, without going through the court process and would face hefty fines.

Effective August 6, 2021, a new Tenant AntiHarassment Ordinance that prohibits landlords from engaging in certain conduct that is intended to force a tenant to vacate their home. The ordinance provides tenants with the ability to sue their landlord for violations and makes violation a criminal offense.

Those in need of assistance may also tap into the following resources: • Tenants Together: www.tenantstogether.org • State of California: courts.ca.gov/documents/Tenant_ Rights_and_Responsibilities.pdf • L.A.County: 211la.org/lacounty/rentrelief • Help Paying Bills: www.needhelppayingbills.com • Stay Housed L.A.: www.stayhousedla.org

Money Matters continued to page 20

Biz News Briefs Issa Rae Partners With AMEX & the U.S Black Chambers ByBlack Initiative

American Express–in a joint campaign with the U.S. Black Chambers (USBC)– has announced the expansion of ByBlack with the first national certification program exclusively for Black-ownership designation. First created as a directory of Blackowned businesses, ByBlack provides businesses an approved accreditation trusted by customers and enables consumers and other companies to easily find U.S.-based Blackowned businesses.

“The success of Black-owned businesses benefits the communities they anchor and in turn, the country at large,” said USBC President Ron Busby. “The Black business community generates more than $150 billion in revenue but has even larger potential. We are continuing to expand ByBlack across the U.S. to help further propel the growth of Black-owned businesses....”

Actress Issa Rae is one of the entrepreneurs benefitting from the program, having certified her business, Sienna Naturals, with the hopes of reaching more customers, and encouraging other Black businesses to do the same.

“We have only scratched the surface of the collective power of Black businesses, so I am excited to join

American Express and the USBC to shine a light on the opportunities ByBlack presents,” Rae said. “ByBlack is a powerful platform that connects Black business owners with new revenue streams and helps all of us find and shop at standout businesses.”

The no-cost certification process takes just thirty minutes to fill out online. Businesses need only provide proof of identification, that their business is 51% Black-owned, and is controlled by a Black owner. For more information, visit https://usblackchambers.org/certification.

Shaquille O’Neal Partners With Alkaline 88 Shaquille O’Neal was recently named to a top ten list of basketball’s richest players with a reported net worth of somewhere in the ballpark of $400 million thanks to player earnings, NBA commentator pay, film and TV deals as well as his joint ownership in about 50 brands–spanning everything from restaurants to car washes. Then there are the revenues generated by his upwards of 50 endorsements, including Icy Hot, Taco Bell, Monster Headphones and just recently the 49-year old NBA great partnered with The Alkaline Water Company with the goal of turning Alkaline88–now the 10th largest enhanced water company in the country–into a household brand. The first collaboration is the new Shaq Paq 2-liter six-pack. As part of the deal, O’Neal has been named to the company’s board of advisors and will serve as the celebrity brand ambassador for the Alklaine88®.

$2 Billion Angels Landing Hotel Project Gets Support from Black Chamber of Commerce The Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of

Commerce (GLAAACC), which advocates for growth, and economic opportunity for Black-owned businesses in the nation’s second largest city, has expressed its support for Angels Landing Partners, hotel development downtown L.A. in a letter sent to city planning officials.

The Bunker Hill development is expected to inject $1.6 billion into the downtown L.A. economy, create thousands of jobs and generate millions in annual tax revenues.

Located adjacent to the historic Angels Flight funicular cable car railway, the project includes two towers anchored by five star hotels, along with a mix of market rate and affordable condominium units and apartments.

The development also features Angels Landing Plaza, a modern urban park in the heart of downtown L.A. “What really has us excited,” GLAAACC Chairman Gene Hale wrote, “is Angels Landing Partners’ firm commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion through their pledge to achieve 30% minority-owned and women-owned business procurement and equally high level of diversity in the workforce. These are economic and business development commitments not always made and kept by other prominent developers. We trust Angels Landing Partners, LLC to fully meet or exceed their ambitious and welcomed economic equity commitments.”

More than 8,300 new jobs are projected to be created during the project’s design and construction and once complete, more than 800 permanent jobs in downtown L.A. with an estimated 500 jobs would be created by vendors to the two luxury hotels.

“GLAAACC is confident,” Hale added”, Angels Landing can help supercharge L.A.’s COVID economic recovery”.

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n September, the number of Americans who died from the Coronavirus topped the 700,000 mark as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on every front, and despite the availability of vaccines to arrest it and the wealth of data to better inform people about it, questions remain.

So, our staff took a deep dive into the research and tapped one of our favorite resources–the renowned Dr. Jerry Abraham, director of the vaccine program at Kedren Health and dubbed by some as “South L.A.’s Dr. Fauci” –to answer some of the most pressing lingering questions about COVID-19.

Of course, the number one question is if and when life will return to normal. On that question, most experts agree that it is too early to know if this will be a seasonal virus that changes slightly from year to year like the flu or if it will become one of the many diseases–including polio and smallpox–that have been nearly eradicated due to vaccines, but there is reason to be hopeful about 2022.

States Dr. Abraham, “We are seeing the end of that fourth wave. As we move into cold/flu season there is some concern as to whether or not there will be a fifth wave.

However, over time with the vaccines, the new oral treatments that are coming out, with the monoclonal antibodies and other strategies to treat COVID, over time we could be looking at a milder illness that will be around like the flu and we learn to live with.”

“So, anticipate a possible fifth wave. Anticipate 5 to 11 year-olds getting vaccinated in the fall. And I’m feeling that in summer 2022, we will be at a place where we can turn the page on this global pandemic.”

In the meantime, here are answers to the rest of the most frequently asked questions:

The Vaccines L.A. Focus/October 2021

Are the side effects of the vaccine dangerous?

“The vast majority of the side effects happen in the first one or two days and the most serious of those are with people with food or drug allergies who got vaccinated and they had a very serious allergic response,” Dr. Abraham reports. “We have no evidence of any long term implications. After 300,000 doses in Los Angeles, I have not had to send anyone to the hospital”.

Can you get the vaccine if you’ve tested positive but are asymptomatic?

Yes.

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Can you take your COVID and Flu shots at the same time?

While the CDC initially advised against getting the COVID vaccine within two weeks of other vaccines in order to monitor reactions, medical experts now say it is totally safe.

What happens if you just get one dose?

There is some protection, but one is not optimally protected without the second dose, unless the single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was administered.

What health conditions preclude one from getting the vaccine?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the majority of people who shouldn't get vaccinated are those who had a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, immediately after a first vaccine dose or to a component of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Those people who are seeing oncologists, rheumatologists, allergists or if you are getting a newer class of medications called biologics–you’re going to want to consult your doctors,” Dr. Abraham adds.

Is it safe to switch vaccines for the first and second dose?

It is not recommended, but it is not deadly.

When should I get vaccinated after having COVID? Five to ten days after you have no symptoms. For those who got monoclonal antibodies (Regeneron), the recommendation from Dr. Abraham is to wait 90 days.

Getting Sick Which tests are more accurate and less likely to produce false negatives?

A PCR test using a nasal swab is usually the best option as studies have found that false negative results occur more often with antigen tests.

Home tests– priced at $10-$40 per test– are available over the counter, without a prescription at pharmacies or retail stores. Returning results in just 15 minutes, the tests–that involve rubbing a shallow nasal swab inside your nostrils and then exposing the swab to a few drops of chemicals–have been found to be useful in some instances.

But says Dr. Abraham, “Overall, I don’t want anyone wasting all their money and going to the pharmacy and buying these tests and we know that they are not as reliable, particularly when there are plenty of places you can

We do not give you any more medicine than you need. What I will tell you from the patients we care for in the hospital who have COVID-19, I’ve never seen anyone say, ‘Hold on, what’s in my monoclonal antibodies or what’s in those steroids you’re giving me to keep me alive’. So, it is very fascinating that those who say they don’t want to be injecting themselves with chemicals are the very ones who are asking absolutely with arms stretched wide, ‘Please give me all those meds to keep me alive’. I want people to hear that really loudly because those meds we use to keep you alive with COVID are actually much more dangerous, but we have to do that because the alternative is you die. So, why gamble with your life?

Dr. Jerry Abraham

go in L.A. County where you can get free PCR and rapid tests.”

What are the recommendations for someone experiencing symptoms?

“Within less than ten days of getting COVID-19, you should go and see a doctor and you will probably need to be evaluated to see if you are a good candidate for monoclonal antibodies,” Dr. Abraham advises. “They will give you these shots to keep you from getting seriously ill. If you get seriously ill, these options are no longer on the table.”

At what point should you go to emergency care if I have COVID-19?

You should seek emergency care if you are having trouble breathing; if you have persistent pain or pressure in your chest; or if your lips or face turn bluish. There are other symptoms, so it is always safe to check with a medical professional.

How dangerous is COVID for children?

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and Children’s Hospital Association, nearly one million children have tested positive for COVID-19, and while the majority of cases are mild, the number of hospitalizations for children with COVID have skyrocketed in recent months triggering a rise in the number of deaths. A growing number as well are being diagnosed with a condition called MIS-C -- multisystem inflammatory syndrome in which different body parts become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes or gastrointestinal organs.

Why are there so many breakthrough cases?

“The virus is doing what the virus does, so while we are mounting the best defenses, the virus continues to do what it does and mutate to stay alive and stay around,” Dr. Abraham explains.

“There is some reason to believe that the waning immunity contributes, but it’s mostly because of these changing variants. Delta was a more infectious variant, so it’s going to affect more people, vaccinated and unvaccinated.

“Vaccines prevent you from dying or having serious illness, but they were never intended to prevent illness altogether. As a reminder, those who were vaccinated have far less, more mild illness. Many will be asymptomatic.

“In L.A. County, people who are unvaccinated are five times more likely to catch COVID, 29 times more likely to be hospitalized. Several times more likely to be put on a ventilator and many more times to die from COVID. Over 97% of the people dying from COVID are unvaccinated and over 90% of those people hospitalized for COVID are unvaccinated.”

Treating COVID What is the most effective treatment for COVID? The FDA has approved the antiviral drug Veklury (remdesivir) for adults and certain pediatric patients with COVID-19 who are sick enough to need hospitalization.

What are the out-of-pocket costs for COVID-19 hospital stays?

The average cost of a one to six day hospital stay for COVID-19 patients without insurance or who receive out-of-network care varied greatly by age, but patients who get seriously ill from COVID could face thousands in hospital fees.

1-5 days: $51,389 to $78,569 6 - 10 days: 89,874 - $155,619 11 to 15 days: $152,388 to $324,285 Over 15 days: $460,989 - 980,821+ Those who are insured may want to keep in mind that with effective coronavirus vaccines widely available, most insurers are no longer waiving copays, coinsurance or payments toward a deductible. In August, Delta Airlines announced that it was imposing a $200 surcharge on health insurance costs for unvaccinated workers.

However, monoclonal antibody treatments are fast becoming the preferred treatment. Corticosteroids have been shown to be beneficial for hospitalized patients needing oxygen but can be harmful for those who are not receiving oxygen.

“There is an oral pill that is going for emergency authorization that is showing a lot of promise and evidence,” observes Dr. Abraham. “It’s a gamechanger because for people who got that oral pill, hospitalization rates went down by 50%. That may change the vaccine game as well.

What are the long term effects of COVID-19?

A new study from researchers in the United Kingdom has found that the coronavirus may cause long-term brain loss. Other long term effects include severe weakness, fatigue, problems with thinking, memory and judgment, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Booster Shots The CDC recommends that people originally vaccinated with two doses of the Pfizer get a booster six months after their last dose if they are over age 65 years, live in a long term care facility or are over age 50 and have an underlying health condition such as diabetes, heart disease or obesity. The U.S. has, however, approved Moderna boosters for certain people with weakened immune systems, including cancer and transplant patients. J&J has not yet provided data to the FDA, but a booster is in the works.

Is the booster any different than the first vaccine doses?

“For Pfizer, it is literally a third shot”, says Dr. Abraham.

“For Moderna, I think they’re actually giving a smaller dose, and then for Johnson & Johnson, it’s most likely the exact same shot.”

Myth Vs. Fact

safe and do not affect men or women’s reproductive organs.

Test your knowledge on which of these statements is true or false.

If I’ve already had COVID-19, I don’t need a vaccine.

False. A study published in August 2021 indicates that if you had COVID-19 before and are not vaccinated, your risk of getting reinfected is more than two times higher than for those who were infected and got vaccinated. What’s more, because you may have had a mild case before doesn’t mean the next time, you will have the same response given that the Delta variant is a great deal more virulent.

COVID-19 is more dangerous for men? True. While men and women are at equal risk for contracting COVID, men have a higher chance of more severe illness.

Smokers are more at risk? True. Given that their lungs are already compromised, smokers have a 10% greater chance of developing serious complications.

There is a 15-minute rule for exposure to people with COVID before you are at risk for COVID-19?

This is a tricky one. The CDC had defined close contact as having come within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more with someone with COVID-19. But there was some evidence that the Delta variant required just five minutes of exposure. Healthcare experts now believe there is no magic number when it comes to distance or duration.

The COVID-19 vaccine can affect women’s fertility.

False. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there’s no evidence that any vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems. The American college of obstetricians and Gynecologists absolutely recommend — there is consensus among the experts that these vaccines are

Getting the COVID-19 vaccine gives you COVID-19 or contains controversial substances.

“False”, says Dr. Abraham. “There is no live or dead virus. There is no way for you to test positive for the virus from the vaccine and there is nothing else in these vaccines except for the MRNA information and salt and sugar that helps keep that molecule stable.

And for the Johnson & Johnson, it’s a viral vector vaccine that puts that information into your body so your body can make anti-bodies.

The COVID-19 vaccine changes your DNA. False. “There’s no micro-chipping. You will not become a magnet,” Dr. Abraham states. “You’re not going to grow a tail. All these things we hear regularly, and they are absolutely false. If anything, I’d be more concerned about the phone you might be reading this on than the medicine we’re shooting in your arm.”

If I get a booster, how long will it last?

Experts aren’t sure if the COVID-19 vaccine/boosters will be needed on a regular basis or what that timeline would be. There are good precedents of other types of vaccines that require an annual booster and some thought to the necessity of building out new vaccines to protect against newer more virulent variants.

What should be said to those who fear that a booster will only add more chemicals to their system?

“Your body…your choice,” says Dr. Abraham. “We want people to be engaged and educated before they’re vaccinated, so we applaud all the questions and scrutiny.

I hope they’re asking those questions about their air quality, water quality, food quality. What’s in my chicken nuggets or hot dogs is just as important as what’s in my vaccine.

Protecting Yourself & Loved Ones If you are not showing symptoms, can you pass it on?

Up to half of all infections are in mild or asymptomatic people who spread the virus with no awareness they are doing so.

Do you have to quarantine if you have been fully vaccinated?

That depends on jurisdiction, employer or school. In general people who are vaccinated have to quarantine for far less time– 3-5 days.

Can I naturally boost my immune system to fight off COVID? Having a strong immune system will not prevent you from contracting COVID-19. That said, you can improve your immune system by eating nutritious meals, managing your stress and most importantly getting a good night’s sleep. Sleep, in fact, is critical to optimal immune function.

No supplements or medications have been proven to reduce the risk of contracting COVID-19, though many studies point to the beneficial effect of vitamin D on the immune system.

The Game Changer?

Merck has announced that it has developed a new pill to treat COVID-19 and has applied to the Food & Drug Administration for Emergency Use Authorization. The drug manufacturer says that their pill cuts both the rate of hospitalization and death. Study results were so strong that an independent group of medical experts monitoring the clinical trial recommended stopping it early.

Pfizer also reportedly has a COVID-19 treatment drug on the way. The development and manufacturing of such drugs could render the Coronavirus as something that is treated like more common respiratory infections, making for a much more manageable virus in the future.

Masks don’t work.

False. When worn correctly, masks are very effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19. The most effective masks are single use N95 surgical masks, but as Dr. Abraham, points out they are best in healthcare settings.

“Triple layer surgical masks are fine. Cloth masks are helpful but not as effective. Least effective are face masks with valves.”

Researchers rushed the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, so its effectiveness and safety cannot be trusted.

False. Emergency use authorization did not skip any steps. Rather than do the steps sequentially, they were done simultaneously, but these vaccines were already in the works. So, we’re not really dealing with anything new and nothing was rushed.

Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett is credited with being one of the scientists at the forefront of COVID-19 vaccine development. The 35-year old viral immunologist has been working on vaccines for nearly a decade and a half.

HO L LY W OOD SPOT LIGHT Chez Hadley “Colin in Black and White” Colin Kaepernick made headlines when in 2016, he refused to stand during the the national anthem, instead taking a knee as a way to protest and bring attention to racial injustice and police abuse.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people," Kaepernick said in a post-game interview.

The peaceful protest sparked a national movement as hundreds of players kneeled in solidarity and the NFL and other sports leagues pledging hundreds of millions in social justice initiatives. Now, Kaepernick is scoring with a new limited Netflix series with Oscar-winning director Ava Duvernay.

The series, Colin in Black & White, chronicles Kaepernick's coming-of-age story, tackling the obstacles of race, class, and culture as the Black adopted child of a white family in high school.

"I'm excited to share this first peek into a project I co-created with the incomparable Ava DuVernay over the past couple of years," says Kaepernick,

who narrates the series.

“We explore the racial conflicts I faced as an adopted Black man in a white community, during my high school years.

17-year-old actor Jaden Michael portrays in the six-episode series centering on the athlete’s formative high school years, providing insight into what informed his activism today.

Mary-Louise Parker and Nick Offerman play his adoptive parents.

Said DuVernay, “Colin’s story has much to say about identity, sports, and the enduring spirit of protest and resilience.”

The series premieres October 29 on Netflix.

OUT THIS MONTH

HOLLYWOOD BUZZ

The Many Saints of Newark October 1

No Time To Die October 8

Hot Property

L.A. Focus/October 2021

She may not have walked away with an Emmy for her portrayal of Aretha Franklin in the National Geograhic series (“Genius: Aretha Franklin”), but twotime Oscar-nominated actress Cynthia Erivo remains one of Hollywood’s hottest properties. This month, she’s back on the silver screen opposite Leslie Odom Jr. in “Needle in a Timestack”, a mindbending story of a couple whose marriage is tested when an ex-husband trys to tear them apart. The London native is also set to star opposite Idris Elba in Netflix feature described as “an epic continuation of the Luther saga” and she’ll play “Blue Fairy” in Disney’s live-action retelling of Pinocchi, starring Tom Hanks.

Other projects include starring in and executive producing a remake of “The Rose” and “Steel”, a thriller set in 1970s London centering in on an ambitious arms dealer who seizes control of her own des-

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Needle In A Timestack October 15

tiny in a high-octane and dangerous profession dominated by her male colleagues. Last month marked the longawaited release of the Tony Award winning actress’ solo debut album, “Ch.1 Vs. 1”, which spans gospelinfused ballads to R&B and pop.

Leaving no talent unharvested, on September 28 Erivo also published her first book, a heartwarming and inspiring children’s story dubbed “Remember to Dream, Ebere.”

Passing October 27

embark on new adventures.”

In the meantime, after a four year hiatus from the show, Sheree Whitfield is prepping for a return in season 14.

Former track Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross is reportedly set to join the cast. It is still not know whether or not Porsha Williams is returning to the show. She pacted with Bravo on a spin-off in May. Kandi Burress has confirmed that she will be returning to the show for season 14. So too is Kenya Moore.

Cynthia Bailey Not Returning to Real Housewives of Atlanta

Finding the Real Will Smith

After 11 seasons, Cynthia Bailey announced that she would not be returning to the “Real Housewives of Atlanta” in a heartfelt social media post.

“After much thought and consideration, I have made the very difficult and heartfelt decision not to return for the next season of Real Housewives of Atlanta.

Thank you NBC Universal, Bravo, and Truly Original for over a decade of partnership. I can’t wait to see what we do next!

Thank you to my Real Housewives of Atlanta castmates for eleven of the most unbelievable years of my life; and the most incredible & UNFORGETTABLE memories! I am so grateful to have had this amazing journey, and I am anxiously waiting to

“What you have come to understand as ‘Will Smith,’ the alien-annihilating M.C., the bigger-than-life movie star, is largely a construction–a carefully crafted and honed character– designed to protect myself,” writes Will Smith in his upcoming memoir, “Will”, set for release on November 9. The book details the actor’s journey from high school raps to superstardom, relating personal and intimate details of his life and marriage. In the meantime, Smith is prepping the release of his upcoming film, King Richard, inspired by a father determined to see his daughters, Venus and Serena Williams, rise to the top of the tennis world.

In casting news: After picking up a Tony Award (Best Actress in a Musical) last month for her stage portrayal on Broadway in “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”, Adrienne Warren has signed on to the cast of “The Woman King”, which already includes Viola Davis, John Boyega and Thuso Mbuso. The film is inspired by true events that took place in the Kingdom of Dahomey, one of the most powerful states of Africa in the 18th and 19th centuries…Lauren London is set to Eddie Murphy and Julia LouisDreyfus in a new untitled Netflix comedy about modern love and family dynamics.

Q&A

ALLISON KUGEL Contributor

Master P Hometown: New Orleans Age: 54 Big Break: 1996 release of “Ice Cream Man” One of the greatest minds to emerge from the 1990s hip hop pantheon, Percy “Master P” Miller transcended a childhood of poverty in New Orleans’ Calliope Projects, to become a beacon of generational wealth. From music, movies and real estate, to the food and automotive industries, his portfolio continues to grow. Master P understood the power of ownership long before Instagram and the age of celebrity branding. Master P’s latest project is the upcoming film, #Unknown, a creative collaboration with his son and co-executive producer, Romeo Miller.

On the top three things that have shaped the person you are today: I would first say God, my kids, my family, and just being able to be blessed.

On the turning point that transformed him: I started realizing that we don’t have to dwell on our past, that it’s okay to move forward; it’s okay to better yourself. It’s okay to have faith. Nobody is perfect.

Once I started having kids, I realized I have more to live for and I wanted to be around to watch them grow up, so I had to start making the right choices.

On Owning His Own Music: My grandfather instilled that in me; “You’re not going to make it in their system. We have to create our own.” I always went against the grain. I knew I couldn’t just work for a paycheck, because I was living in the projects with sixteen people in a three-bedroom apartment. I had so many people and so many mouths to feed, and I couldn’t do that with a regular paycheck.

That’s where education and knowledge come in. We search and seek and pray for money, but we don’t search and seek and pray for knowledge and information. That’s what’s going to get us to our destiny.

On gratitude: When you bless others, blessings will come. My most important job is to be a servant. It’s not about being a boss.

On his philosophy for raising nine happy, welladjusted kids: You have to deal with [each kid] as their own individual. Some kids you have to scream at, some kids you have to talk to softly, and some kids, you have to take them to the side and nourish them. Some kids want a lot of your attention, and some kids want to go off and do their own thing, so you have to know that and be prepared to sacrifice. My life is not about me anymore.

On what is still on your bucket list?

Being able to put together a superhero movie that is owned by us, and not by Hollywood. When you look at Black Panther, that movie made more than a billion dollars, but it wasn’t owned by us. I want to change that narrative.

On his upcoming movie, #Unknown: #Unknown is a suspense thriller, but it’s also about a relationship and about trust and faith in somebody.

The movie has a great plot to it, but at the same time, throughout the story your mind is constantly trying to figure out what’s true, and did this happen, and when did it happen? This film asks the question: in life, do you really believe in the person you are with?

RedCarpet Style

JURNEE SMOLLETT dazzled in this strapless Armani gown with a textured pattern

AVA DUVERNAY struck a pose in a Greta Constantine design

It wasn’t a red carpet but the stars sure dressed up like it was at the reccent celebrity-studded Academy of Motion Pictures Museum opening night gala. Here were some of our favorite looks.

HALLE BERRY glammed it up in this puff sleeve black mini from Etro

ANGELA BASSETT donned an elegant longsleeved jumpsuit

RUTH NEGGA stunned in this vintage Arnold Scassi gown

Eye On Gospel New Music from the Late Rance Allen Nearly a year after his passing, Tyscot Records is releasing new music from celebrated gospel vocalist, Rance Allen.

The release of the album–titled “Love Makes the World Go Around” – coincided with Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz’s proclaimation of Friday, September 24, 2021 as Rance Allen Group Day in the trio’s adopted hometown with brothers Steve and Tom Allen on hand for the honors.

The song about peace and brotherhood features Rance Allen’s signature squalls alongside the thick harmonies of his brothers, Steve and Tom. “We actually recorded it years ago and it was never released,” Steve Allen said. “The song is about bringing people together. There’s a line in the song that says, `When I look through Love’s eyes, things don’t look so bad.’ and it gives us hope. The Bible says, a house divided against itself will not stand. There’s so much division in our country. There’s a way to have differences without being angry. We’ve got to find a way to bring it back to love.”

Stax Records’ parent company Concord Records recently pledged a million dollars to establish the Concord Stax Scholarships which will provide full tuition to at least 20 students each year for the next five years to pursue musical careers. Each of the scholarships are named for a prominent personality in the history of Stax Records such as Otis Redding, The Staple Singers, Isaac Hayes, and Rance Allen. For more information, visit staxmusicacademy.org.

Rance Allen

Deniece Williams Launches A Gospel Brunch, Says Latest Musical Project May Be Her Last Award-winning vocalist, songwriter and producer Deniece Williams is internationally known for her R&B and Pop hits “Free”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” “It’s Gonna Take a Miracle,” “Silly” and special duet hits with the legendary crooner Johnny Mathis, including “Too Much, Too Little Too Late.” But it was Williams’ gospel hits “They Say” (duet with Sandi Patti), “I Surrender All,” “I Believe In You” and “This Is My Song” that brought home four Grammys to this songbird with a multi-octave range voice.

“I want to do something to thank Father, Son and Holy Spirit for being so loving and gracious to me and my family! Years ago, Philip Bailey and I did “Jesus at the Roxy”.

Now I’m compelled to do “Hallelujah Sunday at The Bourbon Room”, said Williams of her newest venture, a gospel brunch she hopes will be a regular addition to the Hollywood Theatre and nightspot she is an investor in.

“During the pandemic all of the churches were closed and a lot of them were doing virtual [services],” she continued, “but 95% of them did not have that and we’ve missed that and how that lifts our spirits and what it does for us physically, emotionally and mentally when we hear that worship and praise. So, I had invested in a club down in Hollywood and I said you guys are doing the theater pieces and this night and that night and we need to bring some Jesus up in here.”

The brunch is something Williams hopes to do on a monthly basis.

“There has been so much that has come against me trying to launch this idea, but I am determined to do this”.

In the meantime, the singer–who celebrated 50 years in the music industry–recently put out a project dubbed “Gemini” and says it may be her last.

“I always said that I want to go out on a high note,” Williams explains. “I see so many of my peers and they don’t go out on a high note. still can sing in my four octaves, but going out and travelling, carrying a band–

everything that it takes…I’m just at the point in my life where it’s time to move on to a new chapter so I’m working on other things.

There’s a theater project I’m working on; I’m now doing a book called “Jesus Stories”; and my son and I are opening up a coffee shop in Las Vegas.

“I feel like the Lord is allowing me to transition to other things and I’m excited about that.”

For more information about Williams’ gospel brunch, visit: www. bourbonroomhollywood.com

Jonny x Mali Grammy® winning gospel hitmakers Jonathan McReynolds and Mali Music have teamed up to co-release a new EP project, Jonny x Mali: Live in LA. The live project follows on the heels of their GRAMMY®-winning #1 hit song, “Movin’ On.” Featured in a new performance take on the EP, the prolific songwriters and musicians have taken their artistic collaboration further, co-writing all the songs, which also include the tracks “Jump Ship,” “Enough, “Miracle,” and “Everlasting.”

Bringing together the fresh lyricism and eclectic melodies that Jonathan and Mali are known for, Jonny x Mali: Live in LA sets the stage for their upcoming coheadlining tour. Bringing their new songs on the road, the Jonny x Mali Tour kicks off on Thursday, September 30th, in Atlanta, GA at The Tabernacle. Crossing multiple states with their live shows, the co-headliners will welcome special guest performers on the tour, which hits North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Washington DC, Illinois, and wraps up in Los Angeles on October 13th.

McReynolds has also signed on the co-host this year’s GMA awards with Natalie Grant. The 52nd GMA Dove Awards are set to air exclusively on TBN, Friday, October 22nd, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. ET and again at 10:00 p.m. ET. The event will take place live and in person in Nashville, TN, October 19th.

SpecialReport

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“How Domestic Violence Is Driving the Homeless Numbers Way Up Among Women”

L.A. Focus/October 2021

hen in 2001, Regina C., a successful L.A.based, black female entrepreneur decided she had finally had enough, she gathered up her young daughter and some of their belongings into the car, drove to a nearby hotel and checked in. She never looked back.

She, however, is one of the more fortunate victims of domestic violence, having the wherewithal to leave.

Regretfully, in far too many cases, women desperate to leave their abusive husbands, often end up on the streets as recent research firmly establishes domestic violence as one of the main drivers into homelessness for the over 18,330 homeless women in Los Angeles County.

Fact is, of the women surveyed in a 2019 Los Angeles City Women’s Needs Assessment–conducted by the Downtown Women’s Center, more than 60% had experienced violence at some point in the last 12 months, and 25.7% reported the violence as occurring constantly or often.

Once a woman decides to leave an abusive relationship, the biggest obstacle is that she either has nowhere to go or is lacking the financial bandwidth to leave. Lack of affordable housing and long waiting lists for assisted housing means that many women, and their children, are forced to choose between staying in abusive home environments or life on the streets. Sadly, shelters are frequently filled to capacity and have to turn away battered women and their children.

“Some women come to [our shelter] with absolutely nothing or very little employment experience because they have been raising kids and the person harming them doesn’t allow them to work,” says Elizabeth Eastlund, Executive Director of Rainbow Services, an emergency shelter that provides temporary housing to individuals and families faced with homelessness due to domestic violence. “Some survivors are able to move through our system fairly quickly and get back on their feet, but for others it may take a while because they come from situations where they have only known abuse, and that very often includes financial abuse.”

While the number of unhoused women due to intimate partner violence has skyrocketed in the last decade, the resources for women fleeing abusive partners is also lacking. Eastlund said that more and more survivors of domestic abuse have unmet needs for both short and long-term housing.

“I work with many women who have unfortunately experienced domestic violence or sexual assault or even child abuse,” says Amy Turk, CEO of the Downtown Women's Center. “But the dynamics of domestic violence is the financial isolation. So, without any finances it’s really difficult for people to leave and then go pay for housing somewhere else.”

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According to the National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH), domestic violence victims often have poor credit records and employment histories because of the violence they have experienced. Landlords often discriminate against victims if they have a protection order or any other indicators of domestic violence. Moreover, if violence occurs in the home, landlords can evict their tenants–resulting in a victim becoming homeless because she was abused.

Turk said in a podcast for Heal California that women who are victims of domestic violence typically make less money than men. “And of course, that’s more true for women of color,” she adds. “The compounding impact of not being able to add to your wealth over time has also left many older women in particular, either vulnerable to homelessness or homeless themselves.”

“Our community must address the deep-rooted causes within larger safety net systems that stop people from falling into homelessness,” argues Heidi Marston, Executive Director of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), an agency of the City of Los Angeles that has conducted numerical and demographic counts of homelessness since 2005.

In 2020, LAHSA reported that women comprised 32% of LA’s total homeless population and that 29% experienced domestic/intimate partner violence.

"We, as a society, have become desensitized and even have normalized homelessness," Marston said in a state of homelessness address. "We have convinced ourselves that the basic human need of shelter or housing is something that has to be earned or deserved, and that's what

GERALD BELL Contributor

we have to stop, that's what we need to change."

To combat the increase of homeless families struck by domestic violence, many cities are providing motel vouchers for the nights when the shelters are full, the NCH reports. But it takes a longer period of time for many to find permanent housing because of the nature of being a homeless family.

“There’s been a lot of efforts made in the last five to six years to highlight the intersection of domestic violence and homelessness,” says Eastlund. Her agency has a Domestic Violence Housing First program that supports victims with their rent or other costs related to staying somewhere safely. “If you are living in poverty, six months of rental assistance is nice. But after that six months you’re likely not going to be able to afford the rent on your own.”

An emergency shelter is just a first step in meeting the needs of women who are able to escape intimate partner violence. NHC stated that shelters (such as the Downtown Women’s Center and Rainbow Services) exist to provide only that immediate safety net to battered women and their children. Which is why so many other wraparound services are required to help them regain full control of their lives.

Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) introduced a bill earlier this year that would recognize unaccompanied women who are experiencing homelessness as a distinct subpopulation in order to target resources to help them.

Senate Bill 678 — the Unaccompanied Women Experiencing Homelessness Act of 2021 would require the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council to collect data about this subpopulation in accordance with state and federal privacy and confidentiality laws, and include that data in the state’s Homeless Data Integration System in order to improve the state’s ability to design programs and strategies to address their specific needs.

"We can end homelessness," said Marston. "How do we know this? Because we created it. Policy choices and underinvestment brought us to where we are today."

This article is the seventh in a eight- part series on domestic violence in collaboration with California Black Media and the Blue Shield of California Foundation. It explores how individuals, families and organizations in our community can seek creative solutions to work through the host of problems that stem from intimate partner violence. For more information, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit: www.thehotline.org.

GameChanger Malia Cohen: “Making a Run For State Controller”

H

er credentials are more than impressive. She is the first African American woman to serve on the board of the California State Board of Equalization, representing 10 million people. Prior to that served as President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors representing the city’s 10th district and she presently serves as President of the San Francisco Police Commission.

In fact, Malia Cohen, 43, has spent her career working to create a more equitable community for all with an eye toward communities of color, women, and working families and now she has her sights set on a higher office: California State Controller.

“I am running to make California’s money work for all Californians. I am running to protect the fiscal viability of our state and I am running to uplift equity and opportunity in the California economy,” Cohen told L.A. Focus. “ T h e

Controller has considerable influence in ensuring that California’s tax dollars are spent transparently, fairly, efficiently, and responsibly. For too long, working Californians and communities of color have been overlooked while the wealthy get a tax cut. This must change. Wealthy and large corporations must pay their fair share and communities of color and working Californians must be supported through a fairer tax code and stronger economic support and investments.”

Cohen announced her candidacy for State Controller during the California Democratic Party 2021 convention earlier this year, at which time she was endorsed by current State Controller Betty Yee who is termed out from running for the post.

That she is the only candidate to have earned Yee’s endorsement is a huge advantage. But Cohen is also quick to point out that she is the only candidate (at least for now) who has successfully run statewide and was elected to represent 10 million people, which she believes makes her the most experienced for the job.

“The Controller is the elected chief fiscal officer for California. How we spend or allocate resources is a statement of our values,” Cohen states. “There is more we can do to ensure all Californians have the support they need to get ahead.”

If Californians vote Cohen the next State Controller, she will become chair of the Franchise Tax Board and serve on the boards of the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers’ Retirement System (CalSTRS) as well. CalPERS and

“

Money matters. As we continue to witness the largest human civil rights movement in history, I am constantly reminded of the role public dollars play in equity and opportunity. California being the fifth largest economy in the world confirms our power as a state to deliver equitable opportunities toward fiscal viability and prosperity to all Californians from all communities.

CalSTRS manage financial investments totaling more than $620 billion. The controller’s office is the state’s independent fiscal watchdog, providing oversight and managing more than $100 billion in receipts and disbursements of public funds a year.

“Money matters,” said Cohen. “As we continue to witness the largest human civil rights movement in history, I am constantly reminded of the role public dollars play in equity and opportunity. California being the fifth largest economy in the world confirms our power as a state to deliver equitable opportunities toward fiscal viability and prosperity to all

KISHA SMITH Staff Californians from all communities. And access to public and sustainable resources to support our workers, environment, infrastructure, and schools will help us usher California into greatness throughout the next decade.”

The state controller also offers fiscal guidance to local governments and uncovers fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. It is also charged with protecting the state’s coastline and helping to build hospitals.

As a member of the BOE, Cohen represents 23 counties and 9.5 million constituents in the Second District, an area that stretches along California’s coast from the top of the state down to Santa Barbara County. Cohen, born in the Richmond District of the “Golden Gate City,” was also president of the Board of Supervisors, succeeding London Breed, who was elected the San Francisco’s mayor in 2018.

For more than a decade now, Cohen has been an influential figure in California state politics, taking on a number of highprofile issues. In 2017, she introduced legislation to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including, menthol cigarettes in San Francisco. The measure was approved.

She celebrated when the Biden administration announced its intention to make that prohibition national back in April.

“I knew if we had a victory, it could start something big. But I did not know just how far it would go,” Cohen said.

“After our ordinance passed in San Francisco, 75 other cities in California

continued to page 20

ChurchNews

Agape Church of Los Angeles Worship Center: Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center 4305 Degnan Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90008

Ulmer Receives Coveted Blessing of the Elders Award

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L.A. Focus/October 2021

ithin the United States, there is a legacy of African American pastors who faithfully adhered to the Bible as their guiding light.

For generations, these spiritual leaders of large and small congregations have held fast to Scripture and its message of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, freedom, and God’s abiding strength. Because of these elders the Bible continues giving hope to our nation.”

Those words frame the purpose of the Annual “Blessing of the Elders” ceremony, presented by the Washington D.C.-based Museum of the Bible, a global, innovative, educational institution whose mission is to invite all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible.

This year’s years prestigious honors were bestowed upon Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, senior pastor of the Faithful Central Bible Church.

“This award was special because it really was not about me. It was about the legacy of the African American church and the prophecy pulpits that helped navigate its course,” Ulmer stated. “It was also special because they came to Los Angeles to present it–the place the echoes the voice of such spiritual elders as Dr. E.V. Hill, Dr. Cecil “Chip” Murray, Dr. Manuel Scott, Dr. Jerome Pleasant and Dr. Jerome Fisher.”

What makes the award most prestigious are the renown pastors who comprise the steering committee for the Blessing of the Elders ceremony, including renowned pastors Tony Evans and A.R. Bernard, tasked with blessing those elders in the African American community who through their faithfulness to Scripture have made exceptional contributions to help heal racial, political, and spiritual divisions and to inspire younger generations of pastors and leaders to follow their examples.

Said Ulmer, “The award produced a heighten sense of both honor and humility for the opportunity to partner with two of my friends of many years–Dr. Tony Evans and Dr. A.R. Bernard. These two ecclesiastical giants are gifts to the body of Christ. To share the project with them was a great joy.”

Ulmer was a supporter of the Museum of the Bible before receiving the honor.

“Its vision and goal of telling the historical story of how the Bible was the driving influence of the African American church is one that I fully support,” Ulmer revealed. “I believe a Black Christian is one of the greatest miracles of God. The Museum’s Blessing of the Elders exhibit illustrates how the Black church impacted and influenced American history.”

Opening to the public in November 2017, the Museum of the Bible’s 430,000-square-foot building is among the most technologically advanced and engaging museums in the world. Showcasing rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history, the museum offers visitors an immersive and personalized experience with the Bible and its ongoing impact on the world around us.

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Bishop Craig A. Worsham,

Founder & Senior Pastor gift cards to thousands of senior pastors.

Sunday School: 10:00am Earlier this year, the Barna Group found that 29 perMorning Worship: 11:00am cent of the Protestant pastors they surveyed had given “real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time Loving, Lifting & Liberating Humanity Through The Word ministry within the last year.”

According to Brian Kluth, national spokesperson of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church of South L.A. 10905 S. Compton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 Bless Your Pastor, “Pastors and church staff are emotion- (323) 566.5286 ally drained. They have tirelessly served their churches Pastor Alvin Stafford Jr. and communities through a very difficult season with little Sunday School: 9:30am respite. Now is an important time to let them know how Morning Worship: 10:30am Book by Book Bible Study (Wed.): 6:30pm appreciated they are. Let’s bless pastors and church staff Sunday service broadcast on Facebook live across America like never before.”

Sunday school and Book by Book Bible Study “Even before this crisis, the majority of pastors and services are conducted on Zoom their families were walking a financial tightrope – teeterFor more information, visit ing on the edge of serious debt and wondering how they www.bethelsola.com could pay essential bills,” Kluth said. One grateful pastor commented, “There is a special feeling when you are blindsided by love.” According to NAE’s research, half of Bryant Temple AME Church America’s pastors earn less than $50,000 per year and 2525 W. Vernon Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90008 (323) 293-6201 • F: (323) 293-0082 work 50—70 hours per week.

The Bless Your Pastor campaign offers three steps for Pastor Dwaine Jackson churches to help their pastors feel appreciated. The plan Sunday School: 8:15am includes sharing a list of 50 Creative Ways to Bless Your Morning Worship: 9:15 am Pastor and Staff with congregation members; taking up an Bible Study (Tues): Noon appreciation offering or giving a year-end bonus for their Pastor’s Bible Study( Tues): 6:00pm pastor; and celebrating the pastor publicly. For every new church that participates and completes all three steps, the senior pastor will be sent a grant-funded $100 Amazon gift card from the NAE. For more information, visit: blessyourCalvary Baptist Church pastor.org.

Solomon Drake Laid to Rest Last month, leaders in the Baptist community and the members of Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church and laid to rest Rev. Solomon L. Drake, who served as the pastor of one of the city’s largest Baptist congregations for more than 34 years.

“What I know to be true is that pastoring the Greater Ebenezer Church was and is one of the greatest joys of my life,” he told L.A. Focus in 2016. “God has blessed me with the church, my family, my baseball career and the journey that God has blessed me to take, leading me to 54th and Denker.”

The Little Rock, Arkansas native settled in Los Angeles after a two-year stint in the military, and after making history with his brother Samuel as the first African American siblings to play in the major leagues.

Drake–then known as Solly Drake–played from 1956 to 1959 with the Chicago Cubs, the L.A. Dodgers and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Drake, who was only the second pastor to lead the 70year-old church, was succeeded in 2016 by Rev. Denon Porter.

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!

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 Sunday LiveStream: 10:00am (facebook.com/christianfellowshipla) Sunday Conference Call: 10:00am (310-372-7549 / code: 342408) Tue/Thurs Morning Word & Prayer: 7:00am Wed. Bible Study w/ Elder Stephen Brown (701-802-5001 / code: 825252# 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. 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

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 Ruby Cottle, Ph.D., Pastor & Teacher Prophetess June Morgan / Assistant Pastor

Services Every Friday: 7:00pm-9:30pm We meet at: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 3901 West Adams Blvd, LA, CA 90018 Watch Dr. Cottle on HBN TV on Wed’s 7:30am Starting May 2nd: Channel 886 Dish, Smart TV 35.2

Grace Temple Baptist Church 7017 South Gramercy Place, Los Angeles, CA 90047 (323) 971-8192 Rev. Rodney Howard

Bless Your Pastor Movement Gains Steam with “Pastor Appreciation Month” The National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) has announced the launch of the 2021 ‘Bless Your Pastor’ campaign, looking toward Pastor Appreciation Month in October. The “Bless Your Pastor” movement, sponsored by the NAE through a generous grant, has spread across the nation over the last two years. More than 2,000 churches have participated and collected $1.2 million+ in appreciation offerings for their pastors. The NAE has provided $500,000 in Amazon

Corprate Office: 4602 Crenshaw Blvd, Suite 2A, Los Angeles, CA 90043 (323) 295-5571 www.agapela.org

Pastor Shane Scott (Macedonia Baptist Church) is all smiles at his wedding on September 19 to Da’Vet Williams.

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

Grant AME Church 10435 S. Central Avenue • Los Angeles, CA 90002 (323) 564-1151 • F: (323) 564-5027

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

Rev. Dr. J. Arthur Rumph, Senior Pastor

Sunday Early Worship: 8am Sunday Morning Worship: 11am Sunday School: 9:30am Tuesday Bible Study: 11am Wednesday In The Word: 7pm All services streamed on Facebook and You Tube @New Antioch Church of God In Christ

Reappointed to Grant AME Church Los Angeles Rev. Dr. James A. Rumph

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

Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church 5300 S. Denker Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90062 (323) 759-4996 Rev. DeNon Porter Early Worship: 8am Sunday School: 9:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11am Radio-KALI 900AM: Sun. 11-Noon, 7-8pm KTYM 1460AM Sundays: 5:30pm Bible Study (Tues, Wed & Thurs): 7pm

Holman United Methodist Church 3320 W. Adams Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 703-5868 • www.holmanumc.com Email: holman@holmanumc.com Rev. Dr. Ken Walden, 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 (Adults) Bible Study: Every Thursday @ Noon We Gather,Grow,Go and Live the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Macedonia LA 1751 East 114th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (323) 569-9561 • www.macedonia-la-org

Senior Pastor Shane B. Scott Sunday Worship Service: 7:30am|10:00am Live MondayBible Study: 7:00pm (Log-in to Zoom Meeting ID: 377-818-648 or Dial In: 346-248-7799)

McCarty Memorial Christian Church 4103 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 731-4131 • www.mccartychurch.org Senior Pastor Edward Anderson Sunday Worship: 10:45am Bible Study: Tues @ 12:30pm/ Wed @6:00pm Zoom Call Into: (605) 472-5454/Access:188857 Online Services Stream Live: Sundays@10:45am to www.mccartychurch.org Give: Text 77977 Instagram@mccartyconnect Mount Moriah Baptist Church of Los Angeles, Inc. 4269 South Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90037 (323) 846-1950 •Fax: (323) 846-1964 Reverend Johnteris Tate-Pastor Sunday Church School: 8:00am Worship Service: 9:15am Baptist Training Union: 7:00am Tues. Bible Study/Prayer:Noon & 7:00pm Mt. Sinai Missionary Baptist 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, 11:30am Discipleship Groups (Sun): 9:45am Noonday Bible Study(Tue): 12:00pm Tuesday Night in the Truth: 7:15pm Radio: KKLA 99.5 FM (Sat): 9:00pm 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 Sunday Tues. Pastor’s Bible Study: 6:30pm Wed. Noon-day Prayer: Noon

FIRST LADY FILES

KAREN A. BROWN Contributor

Osharye Hagood

S

University Christian Church

eeking to bring “Chara” (the Greek word for joy) to women and communities that are helpless and hopeless, Lady Osharye Hagood serves alongside her husband, Pastor Rudy Hagood, as the dynamic servant leader of the Women’s Ministry of the University Christian Church.

“My goal is, that as we grow in our understanding of God, we grow in our understanding and love for each other.

In doing so, we experience the joy of the Lord”, said Hagood, who has been working in ministry for over 25 years with 21 of them being at UCC. “I would say, I’m not the typical first lady because I have been doing ministry for so many years. I would minister a lot to pastors or leaders of churches.”

Hers is also a commitment to bring awareness to the subservient role of female Christian teachers and leaders.

As a called teacher of the Word of God herself, Lady Hagood’s mission is to garner respect for the women who serve in the same roles as men.

“We have to see ourselves the way God sees us and has positioned us.”

Hagood also carries a burden for racial unity in the church. Widely termed as diversity, she defines it as, “Growing in our understanding of each other and love for one another.”

Since she was raised in a large African American family and religious community, Lady Hagood’s desire was to give her children an opportunity to be exposed to something different. As God would have it, her husband was selected as the first African American leader called to pastor UCC. This mother of seven works tirelessly to fulfill the call that God has placed on her life. She also enjoys spending quality time with her husband and children with a weekly scheduled family dinner. “I set aside time for my children and minister to them”, said Hagood, With a prospective view for what’s ahead for the universal church she says, “The minister of this hour will need to spend much time with God in order to know how to really get to the heart of the matter with people.”

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

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

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

Trinity Baptist Church 2040 West Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90018 (323) 735-0044 • F: (323) 735-0219 Rev. Alvin Tunstill, Jr Sunday Worship Services: 10:00 am YouTube channel: tv.trinitybaptist.cloud Facebook/Website:trinitybaptistchurchofla.org SundayRadio Broadcast KJLH FM: 9:00am Zoom Wed. Night Virtual Bible Study: 7:00pm Sign in to zoom.us click on “join in a meeting” enter meeting ID: 480-271-5449. By phone call 1-699-900-6833 give zoom ID. Sign-in at 6:55pmrchofla.org 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

West Angeles Church of God In Christ Office Hours: Tuesday - Friday 8:30am-5:30pm (323) 733-8300 Bishop Charles E. Blake Sunday Services: 10am West Angeles Cathedral 3600 Crenshaw Bvld, Los Angeles, CA 90016 Sun. Radio Broadcast KJLH 102.3FM: 10am (Westa.org)

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) Service Time: 10:45 Virtual Worship: Youtube

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

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

Sunday Worship: 9:00am Online Wednesday Bible Study: 7:00pm FB: GreaterZionChurchFamily IG: GZCFamily www.gzcfamily.com

Back At Church?

Advertise with us today Call for details 310-677-6011

Holy Chapel Missionary Baptist Church In Compton 1016 E. Rosecrans Avenue, Compton, CA 90220 (310) 537-3149 • F: (310) 537-3149 Rev. Dr. George L. Thomas Sunday School: 9:45am & 10:15am Early Morning Worship: 7:30am Mid-Morning Worship: 11:15am New Members’ Class: 9:45am Holy-Communion (1st Sunday): 7:30 & 11:15am Mid-Week Prayer & Bible Study (Wed)- 7:00pm Broadcast (KALI 900AM - Sunday): 2:00pm3:00pm Love and Unity Christian Fellowship 1840 S. Wilmington Ave, (P.O. Box 5449), Compton 90224 (310) 604-5900, www.loveandunity.org • info@loveandunity.org Apostle Ronald C. Hill, Sr. Founder and Pastor Live Stream Sunday Worship:10am & 6:30pm Live Stream Bible Studies:Wed.7:30pm&Sat 9am Live Stream Prayer w Apostle: Fri: 9am Food For Your Soul TV Ministry Impact Televison Network: Mon-Fri @6:30amPST KJLH 102.3 Sundays 9:00pm

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

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

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

Blessed Family Covenant Church 325 North Hillcrest Blvd, Inglewood, CA, 90301 (310)-674-0303 • F: (310)-674-0303 • blessedfamilycovenant.org Pastor Wendy Howlett Sunday Morning Worship & Word: 9:30am Wednesday Prayer & Bible Study: 7:00pm View Sunday Worship: www.youtube.com (Under Blessed Family Covenant Church)

Center of Hope LA 9550 Crenshaw Blvd., Inglewood, CA 90305 www.GO2Hope.com•#centerofhope•#cohla•Info@GO2HOPE.com Give: Text COHLA to (833) 246-7144 Pastor Geremy L. Dixon Service Times: 8:00am & 10:00am Watch Via: Facebook|YouTube|Live Stream Closer To People...Closer To God!

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 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

Pastor Profile: Lloyd Harrison Church: Willow Street Church of God How Long at Church: 16 years Hometown: Los Angeles Family: Wife Bobette of 34 years, one adult son

What set the foundation for you to be in ministry?

Watching my parents model caring for others as well as the five of us–four girls and me. My father and mother modeled that spirit of love, giving back and helping out wherever they could. My dad and mom would hold a dinner with their friends and the neighborhood, and my dad would say eat as much as you want, but don't waste the food. So, it was fun being around people, the fellowship and it was natural for me to be in that type of setting.

Was the idea of a pastor, being a pastor something you thought about as a kid?

I played basketball in college and I was a coach locally for many years. They had like a little college program league at Washington High School in the summer. That's where Byron Scott played for me. And when he was at Woodcrest Elementary School, Paul Pierce played for me.

I wasn't well-known or anything. Coaching was something I did on the side. I worked for Northrop Grumman for 35 years as human resources.

L.A. Focus/October 2021

What was your journey into ministry like?

Being that my mom and dad were church goers, I was brought up in church and from a little kid, I enjoyed it. I started as an advocate or a liaison between the pastor and the youth pastor.

I helped with different activities in the church with a sensitivity towards what's going on in the neighborhood. Growing up in South Central, it gave me an opportunity to share some of the things I knew were going on in the neighborhood because it was pretty chaotic.

So, I felt that's what we call a call to ministry, but I didn't know what that was. And then worked closely with the pastor at The Church of the Nazarene that was right there in South Central. Then at the second church– Friendly T e m p l e Missionary Baptists

18

church in Watts–I went into deaconship. From there, I went into being a minister and assistant pastor. I had responsibilities with the youth again, but I was also preaching and hitting the street– doing feeding and making sure we were caring for the widows and different other things.

What happened to let you know that God had you on track to be a pastor?

As part of the ministry I went to the streets and fed people, but there was a youth pastor that was at the church one year and suggested we go to the mission. When I went in, and I'll never forget it. I was probably about 2324 years old and there was one of the friends I went to junior high school with and I broke down and cried. It really hurt me to see him in the position because he got caught up in drugs. That's when I started really going out, seeing that I could help people from a different dynamic than being in the church. That's where I think the calling began for me.

What was your response to the calling?

Happy. Nervous. I knew I needed guidance. Roger Bowman was my pastor at the time and I had a good group around me to. I didn't move straight into being a pastor or anything, but it paved the way for me to understand what ministry would be like. It wasn't like it changed me overnight. There were things I had to process through, and things I needed to test to see if it was true.

How did you test it?

Some people don't have a process, but what we had was a process to say, work at this or work at that. For instance, I went to the jails and spoke there. I've had an opportunity to go to the missions and speak. I knew that was something near and dear in my heart. I felt the calling of helping people become better. Yes, they should become a Christian, but I think it was more interest in making them better from what they were, helping them to be, not push them to it, but offer something to them to be better.

How did you evolve in your approach to ministry?

When I was doing youth ministry, I thought I was in my niche. But it shifted when I kept feeling the call to pastor a church and I knew pastoring was in my heart because wanted peo-

ple to grow, become better. I have atheists who are my friends and I'm not expecting them to become Christian, what I'm expecting is for them to is become a better person.

What, if any, expectations did you have to manage?

I believe that at the end of the 80s into the 1990s, we as pastors, were too involved in growth and big numbers. I think it should have been that we should grow big people, not big churches. I wasn't really looking for numbers, I'm really invested in people. People matter. I love people. I think that's my problem.

That's your weakness and your strength?

Both because I'm sensitive. I don't like to be hurt and I don't like to hurt people.

I used to have an anger, a rage problem, but through God's love, the Bible, the reading, that changed in me.

What will make you have been successful in your mind when you retire?

Number one, I'm praying about the person who will come behind me, because I want them to not do the exact same thing I did. It's not about them growing a church to where they are driving a Rolls Royce. I'm praying for somebody who would have more of an impact and take it to that next level. I have a vegetable garden for the community, so that they’re able to come in, and as we grow the vegetables, you can come and pick from there. We have renovated our sanctuary. Now, we're getting ready to build it so that people can come in and whether kids come after school for computer based training or I have some doctors there to provide medical services. We want to service the needs of this community.

What do you want people to feel when they come to Willow Street Church of God? Number one, that is a safe place to come no matter what they have experienced in their life and at the same time where they feel they can get the help they need. Two, I want them to feel the relationship of fellowship. Three, is that we have developed a church where people can grow as Christians, as believers in God so being able to minister…to offer programs and goods, as well as the teachings. You have to be malleable and not myopic.

How much of a priority is serving the Long Beach community in the scheme of things?

High. I'm not really worried about the name that I don't take care of itself. My mother and father were the same way. They didn't try to get their name out. They did it because they loved people. Instead, it's important from the standpoint that you have credibility and I need to make sure it's high. I'm very careful of not painting the picture that I came in to save the world, because that's

From the Pulpit of: Brookins Kirkland Community AME “An Approved Worker” —2 Timothy 2:15”

M

y favorite teacher was Mrs. Jessie Lane. She was my algebra 2, trigonometry, and calculus teacher. She was a neat, petite statute of a woman, soft-spoken, but could be firm when she needed to be.

Mrs. Lane excited me about learning math. When I became frustrated when trying to solve a problem, she patiently talked me through the process without giving me the answer. She taught in a way where I got it and wanted to learn more. That’s what I appreciated about her.

Back in the day, teachers taught because they loved teaching. They loved the feeling they felt when their students grasp the subject matter.

Teachers have a duty to impart strong morals to their students. Parents are children’s first teachers. Proverbs 22:6 says to “Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” It’s called home training.

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

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

Unemployment is high in some communities, not because jobs don’t exist, but because workers are not qualified for them.

Have you ever heard of being hired and trained for a job, work one day and never show up or call the employer the next? Or, reporting your impending absence from work to your supervisor without bothering to come up with a reason why or excuse.

Some come with the idea of making bank at the entry level.

Ever heard of “crawling before you walk?” That means starting at the entry level and working your way up. And they wonder why they can’t find a job. It’s

called work ethic!

Whatever your motivation, do it for the right reason! If you are going to be a teacher, know the subject matter. Study!

You cannot teach something you know nothing about.

“

Sermons we’ve heard on the radio, see on television, stream on our computers, and hear from some pulpits, show that there are pulpit doctors who are giving the "wrong stuff" to sin-sick souls.

The Word of God is the right stuff.

This was the issue in the Ephesian church.

Some heretical teachers, Gnostics, joined the church. They wanted to teach a doctrine different from what Paul taught. Gnostics believed “the divine Christ join the man Jesus at baptism and the divine Christ left the human Jesus before he died.” They wanted to teach myths and Jewish genealogy – in the church.

The false teachers were argumentative, and didn’t know what they were talking about, which caused confusion. Today, people join church congregations from different denominations. They bring what they were taught in their old congregation to the new church. We sometimes put them up to teach and preach before we know what they know. That’s because we don’t know any better. Both congregations were teaching doctrinal beliefs as opposed to the word of God. Like Paul told Timothy, the Holy Spirit says that in later times some will renounce the faith by paying attention to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, and hypocritical liars (1 Timothy 4:1-4).

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

Antioch Church of Long Beach 350 Pine Ave. ,Long Beach, CA 90802 (562) 591-8778 •www.antiochlb.com Senior Pastor Wayne Chaney, Jr.

In Long Beach

Online Services Stream live: Sunday 10:00 am at antiochlb.com Give: text antiochib to 77977 Social Media: facebook.com/antiochlb instagram.com/antiochlb youtube.com/antiochlongbeach

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

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

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

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

The solution to this devilment is to Train yourself to be godly (1 Tim. 4:7).

Godliness requires self-discipline.

In a school examination the examiner put the question, "What is false doctrine?"

Up went a little boy's hand, and there came the answer, "It's when the doctor gives the wrong stuff to the people who are sick." False doctrine (doctorine) indeed!

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

When God wants work done, He calls a worker.

God never calls lazy or an idle worker when He needs people for His service.

Moses was busy with his father-inlaw’s flocks at Mount Horeb. Gideon was busy threshing wheat by the wine press. Saul was

busy searching for his father's lost beasts.

Elisha was busy plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. David was busy caring for his father's sheep. Nehemiah was busy bearing the king's wine-cup. Amos was busy following the flock. Peter and Andrew were busy casting a net into the sea.

James and John were busy mending their nets. Matthew was busy collecting taxes.

Paul was busy persecuting Christians.

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

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

The pierced him in his side.

The blood and water came streaming down.

Then He died.

They placed him in a borrowed tomb.

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

I don't know why Jesus loved me.

I don't know why He cared.

I don't know why He sacrificed His life Oh, but I'm glad, so glad He did.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved by Him... Be a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15) as one approved by Him...

Be a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly explaining the word of truth.

Pastor Mary Minor

In Lynwood

Christian’s Community Center of Los Angeles 3960 E. Gilman Street, Long Beach, CA 90815 (562) 597-3252 Senior Pastor Thom Washington Live Stream Sunday Service: 11:00am Wednesday Night Prayer: 6:00pm Sunday Bible Class: 9:30am Sunday Afternoon Services: 4:00pm (2nd & 4th Sunday) Wednesday Prayer: 6:00pm Bible Study Wednesday 7pm

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

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

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

Grant AME Church of Long Beach 1129 Alamitos Ave. Long Beach, CA 90813 • (562) 437-1567 grantamelb@aol.com • www.grantamelb.org Rev. Dr. Michael W. Eagle, Sr.

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

Sun. Worship Experience: 10:45am 3rd Sun. Healing & Anointing: 10:45am Wed. Bible Study: Noon & 6pm Mothers of Murdered Youth & Children Where all receive a little attention, affection and love.

Pastor Nissan Stewart Sunday Morning Worship: 11:00am Wednesday Prayer: 6:30pm Mid-Week Refuel/Bible Study: 7:00pm (Wednesday) Follow us: @GETFamilyNow The Greater Emmanuel Temple App Available in App Store

In Norwalk

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

Bruce’s Beach continued from page 6 for African-Americans.

“L.A is one of the most segregated and economically divided cities in America, it’s good to know that no matter how hard they fought to get rid of Black families, what’s done in the dark will come to light.”

Anthony Bruce, who is the great-greatgrandson of Charles and Willa Bruce, tells news outlets that his family is not “rushing back” to set up business in Manhattan Beach.

In fact, according to L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, the work is far from done.

“Now that LA County officially has the authority to transfer this property, my goal these next several months will be to transfer this property in a way that not only works for the Bruce family, but is a model that other local governments can follow,” Hahn said. “Returning Bruce’s Beach can

and should set a precedent for this nation and I know that all eyes will be on Los Angeles County as this work gets underway.”

The county is now working to confirm the rightful heirs of Willa and Charles Bruce. Once that is accomplished, they will determine through discussions if the Bruce heirs want the exact parcels on which the lifeguard training center sits, or would they accept two equivalent parcels in the same block. They also would now have the option of being the county’s landlords after determining how much rent the county would then have to pay them on the oceanfront property.

“It is never too late to address the injustices of the past,” said Senator Bradford.

“As a member of the California Reparations Task Force, this is an example of what real reparations can look like.”

Bass continued from page 6 safety and economic crisis in homelessness that has evolved into a humanitarian emergency,” Bass said in her tweet. “I’ve spent my entire life bringing groups of people together in coalitions to solve complex problems and produce concrete change -especially in times of crisis. Los Angeles is my home. With my whole heart, I'm ready."

Observed public policy expert Kerman Maddox, “Karen Bass is a uniquely talented elected official who has the ability to work with and connect with supporters and critics to get things done because everybody respects her, and people really like her and in electoral politics likeability is priceless.

The six-term lawmaker, who founded the social justice non-profit, the Community Coalition–has since 2011– represented California’s 37th Congressional district, which stretches from Inglewood to Century City and includes Leimert Park, Culver City, MidCity, West Adams, Mar Vista, Westwood, Ladera Heights and University Park.

If elected, Bass would make history as the first woman to serve as L.A. mayor.

The primary election is set for June 7, 2021.

Parker continued from page 8 government and too much politics – as factors that pull us away from those principles and truths.

The Census Bureau's "Income and Poverty in the United States: 2020" report shows that America is still working.

It can work even better if we strengthen, not weaken, as the left wants, the great principles of a free nation under God that defined our founding.

Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show "Cure America with Star Parker." To find out more about Star Parker, visit www.creators.com.

Gamechanger continued from page 15 passed similar bans.”

For now, Cohen is working to expand her support network and name ID beyond Northern California.

Taisha Brown, chair of the California Democratic Party Black Caucus, said she’s ready to support Cohen and see more African American women, the most loyal voting bloc in the Democratic Party, in leadership roles.

“I’m happy to see more Black women moving in the direction to lead California as statewide officers. We have always been capable and have put in the work. I’m excited and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work for Malia Cohen to be our next State Controller,” Brown said.

Cohen believes it is her message and mission that will resonate the most with voters.

“Ensuring that taxpayer money is

being used fairly and efficiently is a top priority. As State Controller, I will ensure our dollars reflect our priorities and our values as a state. I am running to ensure underrepresented and disadvantaged Californians have a fair chance at a middle-class life, strong public education, reliable transportation, sustainable infrastructure, and safe communities”.

Money Matters continued from page 9

“

The free market works well in many different sectors, but childcare is not one of them, It does not work for the caregivers; it does not work for the parents. It does not work for the kids. And because it does not work for them, it does not work for the country." would not pay childcare costs.

While Biden’s proposal is currently being debated in Congress, economists stress that lowering childcare costs for low and middle income families can relieve the financial pressure and promote better long-term health, educational, and civic outcomes for children.

Pastor profile continued from page 6 not what it's about. This is my opportunity to do something where I'm serving. We just did a demographic study and now that we have different ethnicities, we're going to find ways to minister to them. So, we're having conversations to understand what they need so that we can hit that more strategically than just guessing at it.

What kinds of things do you do in the community that help to extend that outreach and the churches' name and goodwill?

Feeding the homeless. We do extremely good job. Taking care of the widow and widowers, a single mom. We do more than just feed. We make sure find out what is that they need and how we can come along and help them. Totally helping them to have a community to where we can offer them valuable services, like when we have the opportunity team up with partnership with Long Beach State University and are able to hand out computers to some of the high schoolers.

We've done different things that have helped us connect with the community and make sure that not just our name is out there, but our love and who we are is out there. And I never got comfortable.

I'm always looking of ways to be close to the community, but even closer to God.

InGoodTaste

d Chicken Nana’s Honey Frie Ingredients:

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d pat dry) -whole (washed an 10 – s ng wi en Chick Buttermilk - 2 cups .

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er c powder in a larg asoning, and garli se e n on ju t Ca as , le er at pp r salt, pe refrigerate fo 1. Mix buttermilk, ixture cover and m to s ng wi en ick bowl. Then add ch t next to it. with a baking shee wl . bo hour m iu ed m a chicken wing in th the flour in ilk, then dip each 2. Mix paprika wi rm tte bu e th m icken fro 3. Remove the ch cessive flour. and shaking off ex ll, bletop fryer. we g in flour, coat st iron skillet or ta ca e rg la a to l oi ch chicken 4. Add 1/2 to ¾-in s F. Gently place ately 365 degree im ox once (use g pr in ap rn to tu , at He until golden fry d an r, ve Co l. wings in hot oi minutes. the oil and tongs), 15 to 20 of chicken out of es ec pi ish fin e 5. Lift th e or baking r-towel lined plat transfer to a pape sheet. t sauce & 6. Mix honey, ho parsley. en while 7. Drizzle on chick hot.

L.A. Focus/October 2021

21

SavingGrace

H

L.A. Focus/October 2021

ers is one of those faces you think you know and… there is good reason for it. In her more than 25 years in the industry, Nicki Micheaux has racked up more than 70 onscreen credits, including most recently a recurring role in NCIS: Los Angeles.

She is perhaps best remembered for her role of Jen Sutton, a spiritually strong and independent supportive wife and mom on the ABC Family series “Lincoln Heights” in a cast that included the late Chadwick Boseman. Earning two NAACP Image Award Nominations for Outstanding Actress in a Drama Series, critics praised Micheaux for bringing to her character what ultimately was a true reflection of who she is and how she lives life off camera.

Micheaux’s acting career began with supporting role appearances and guest-starring parts on such hit television shows as ER, Any Day Now, City of Angels and a recurring role on the Showtime drama series Soul Food from 2001 to 2002. When Oprah Winfrey produced the television film, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Micheaux landed the supporting role of Phoebe Watson opposite Halle Berry.

Micheaux went on to appear in the HBO drama Six Feet Under as Karla Charles and FX crime drama The Shield as Trish George. Her highly stacked resume also includes guest-starring roles on Brothers & Sisters, Castle and The Mentalist the TNT drama series, Animal Kingdom.

Surprised and humbled by the number of opportunities she has earned in Hollywood, Micheaux revealed that acting was never a childhood dream. She says that her work today in television and film do not define her identity or womanhood. In fact, her most prized possession she says is the son and daughter she has been blessed to raise as a single mom while mirroring what her own mother and father instilled in her.

“I was raised by parents who came up in Mississippi surviving as black people did during their time,” explains Micheaux, a native of Detroit. “It was expected that we would do well in school, go to college and that we would do something worthy of being a part of society. My dad was big on principles and doing what you believe in and stand for.”

The 50-year old actress calls herself an “army brat” because her father’s military career led to multiple relocations that eventually planted the family in Houston, Texas where she’d complete middle and high school. The pearls of wisdom and mantras that her parents repeatedly drilled in her (and her siblings) Micheaux admits she dreaded hearing in her youth, but they are values she has never forgotten.

“Happiness lies not in liking what you do. Happiness lies in liking what you have to do,” Micheaux quotes her mother. “I hated that for a very long time but have grown to cherish it. What my mother was saying is work with what you’ve got but find your joy in life and live out

22

GERALD BELL Contributor

Nicki Micheaux

fully what you do…I have learned to appreciate the sentiments of that quote.”

Today, Micheaux is lavishing in the responsibilities that come with passing on her parent’s values to her son and daughter all while juggling the demands of public life in show business.

“After having kids what started to drive me is—what did I want my children to see in me?” she questioned internally. “If I am doing something difficult, what drives me is showing [my kids] what is possible because they are looking at me.” Even when it appears like her children aren’t paying attention, she said she finds solace in the fact that her “kids are very strong-minded, and that quality will help them find their way as adults.”

Micheaux’s deep commitment to her job as a parent is what drove her to become a member of Mothers of Black Boys (MOBB) United, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to positively influencing how Black boys and men are perceived and treated by law enforcement and in society.

The five-year-old organization with chapters in several cities across the U.S. and 180,000 Facebook members, is pushing for the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (JIPA) HR 1280 that was introduced by Rep. Karen Bass (D- CA) and passed by the House of Representatives. The bill would establish national standards for training and operation of police departments that would be mandated at the federal level and uses the power of funding to encourage adoption of the same standards at the state and local level.

Micheaux served as Ambassador for MOBB United for two years and has since remained active as a volunteer in part because she has a Black son, but also to offer her influence and support to uplift other Black moms.

“Even if I didn’t have a son, I would definitely be a part of this work,” notes Micheaux who added that she has a father, brother, male cousins, and friends who are all Black. “We need more support and more resources to deal with the injustices, systemic racism, and laws that are problematic.”

She continues, “We don’t want to wait until we’re talking about how your child is a hashtag. So, we must immediately address how we make the best life possible for our kids…This struggle is not unique because as parents of school aged children we’re all going through this together.”

Micheaux’s perseverance as a mother, actress and activist, is a clear indication that her parents made a lasting impression on their daughter who also grew up hearing her mom repeatedly say, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.”

“I am so grateful to be able to tell the stories I want to tell,” says Micheaux of her success as an actress and now director and screen play writer.

“Lots of people are talking about very controversial issues on their shows and that’s exciting.”

Micheaux further offers that while everything in her life and Hollywood career is far from perfect, she doesn’t complain because over time her profession has gone far better than she expected. “Becoming an actress was the craziest idea

ever,” she reflects. “I never would have imagined in my wildest dreams that I would see this kind of success.

People (her family and friends) were like, how are you going to earn a living? How are you going to make it?”

Even though she has yet to earn an Academy or Emmy nod, Micheaux has certainly silenced the doubting voices of her past. So much so, she has other projects on the horizon she hopes will take her career to higher heights in an industry that continues to present challenges for people of color.

“There are problems in Hollywood. But they are the same problems all over this country and in this world,” said Micheaux who is currently developing a new television show based on the life of Holly Draines, former secret service agent to the Obamas. “You’ve got the problem of how women are seen. You have colorism. They’re all here in this town. But that’s why I’m here in this town to do my part to effect change.”

The saving grace for Micheaux is that she’s doing exactly what God put her on earth to do both publicly and privately. Proof of that is less in her acting accomplishments but more-so in the two young lives who have been entrusted in her care and mean so much more to her than any roles or awards.

“My kids are happy, healthy and doing well in school,” she beams. “I feel like I have been able to provide them a really good life I am really thankful for that.

All I wanted was for them to feel good and enjoy their freedom and know that they have options as opposed to being forced into one thing or another.

That was all I wanted.

And t h a t ’ s beautiful.”