Vol. 63 No. 26 | Thursday, June 29, 2023

THE MEANING OF JULY FOURTH FOR THE NEGRO

The words of Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852

Fellow Citizens, I am not wanting in respect for the fathers of this republic. The signers of the Declaration of Independence were brave men. They were great men, too. Great enough to give frame to a great age. It does not often happen to a nation to raise, at one time, such a number of truly great men. The point from which I am compelled to view them is not, certainly, the most favorable; and yet I cannot contemplate their great deeds with less than admiration. They were statesmen, patriots and heroes, and for the good they did, and the principles they contended for, I will unite with you to honor their memory… …Fellow-citizens, pardon me, allow me to ask, why am I called upon to speak here to-day?

What have I, or those I represent, to do with your national independence? Are the great principles of political freedom and of natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?

See FOURTH page 4

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA NEWSWIRE SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT

House leaders joined forces with the U.S. Postal Service to reveal a commemorative stamp paying tribute to the late Rep. John Lewis on Wednesday.

The unveiling occurred during a special event held at Capitol Hill.

An original member of the Freedom Riders, Lewis played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, enduring brutal violence when Alabama state troopers fractured his skull during the infamous “Bloody Sunday” incident in Selma in 1965.

See STAMP page 2

By

When the International African American Museum opened to the public Tuesday, June 27 in South Carolina, it became a new site of homecoming and pilgrimage for descendants of enslaved Africans whose arrival in the Western Hemisphere begins on the docks of the lowcountry coast.

By Maxim Elramsisy CALIFORNIA BLACK

Overlooking the old wharf in Charleston at which nearly half of the enslaved population first entered North America, the 150,000-s quare-foot (14,000-square- meter) museum houses exhibits and artifacts exploring how African Americans’ labor, perseverance, resistance and cultures shaped the Carolinas, the nation and the world.

See MUSEUM page 2

Civil Rights and personal Injury

attorneys Benjamin Crump and Carl Douglas announced a $100 million lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles last week for the death of Keenan Anderson, a high school English teacher visiting Los Angeles from Washington D.C.

The attorneys are representing Anderson’s son, Syncere Anderson, and Syncere’s mother Gabrielle Hansell. The complaint alleges civil rights viola-

tions, assault and battery, false imprisonment, and negligence on the part of Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers in the death of Anderson.

See ANDERSON page 2

Congressman John Lewis Forever Stamp.

PHOTO: USPS

The stamp honors the iconic congressman, who many called the 'conscience of Congress'

Attorneys Carl Douglas (left) and Ben Crump (right) pictured with the family of Keenan Anderson in Los Angeles, California, on June 19, 2023.

PHOTO: Maxim Elramsisy via CBM

ARTICLE CONTINUATION

It also includes a genealogy research center to help families trace their ancestors' journey from point of arrival on the land.

The opening happens at a time when the very idea of Black people's survival through slavery, racial apartheid and economic oppression being quintessential to the American story is being challenged throughout the U.S. Leaders of the museum said its existence is not a rebuttal to current attempts to suppress history, but rather an invitation to dialogue and discovery.

"Show me a courageous space, show me an open space, show me a space that meets me where I am, and then gets me where I asked to go," said Dr. Tonya Matthews, the museum's president and CEO.

"I think that's the superpower of museums," she said. "The only thing you need to bring to this museum is your curiosity, and we'll do the rest."

The $120 million facility features nine galleries that contain nearly a dozen interactive exhibits of more than 150 historical objects and 30 works of art. One of the museum's exhibits will rotate two to three times each year.

Upon entering the space, eight large video screens play a looped trailer of a diasporic journey that spans centuries, from cultural roots on the African continent and the horrors of the Middle Passage to the regional and international legacies that spawned out of Africans' dispersal and migration across lands.

The screens are angled as if to beckon visitors towards large windows and a balcony at the rear of the museum, revealing sprawling views of the Charleston harbor.

One unique feature of the museum is its gallery dedicated to the history and culture of the Gullah Geechee people. Their isolation on rice, indigo and cotton plantations on coastal South Carolina, Georgia and North Florida helped them maintain ties to West African cultural

traditions and creole language. A multimedia, chapel-sized "praise house" in the gallery highlights the faith expressions of the Gullah Geechee and shows how those expressions are imprinted on Black American gospel music.

Last Saturday, the museum grounds buzzed with excitement as its founders, staff, elected officials and other invited guests dedicated the grounds in spectacular fashion.

The program was emceed by award-winning actress and director Phylicia Rashad and included stirring appearances by poet Nikky Finney and the McIntosh County Shouters, who perform songs passed down by enslaved African Americans.

"Truth sets us free - free to understand, free to respect and free to appreciate the full spectrum of our shared history," said former Charleston Mayor Joseph Riley, Jr. who is widely credited for the idea to bring the museum to the city.

Planning for the International African

American Museum dates back to 2000, when Riley called for its creation in a State of the City address. It took many more years, through setbacks in fundraising and changes in museum leadership, before construction started in 2019.

Originally set to open in 2020, the museum was further delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, as well as by issues in the supply chain of materials needed to complete construction.

Gadsden's Wharf, a 2.3-acre waterfront plot where it's estimated that up 45% of enslaved Africans brought to the United States in the late 18th and early 19th centuries walked, sets the tone for how the museum is experienced. The wharf was built by Revolutionary War figure Christopher Gadsden.

The land is now part of an intentionally designed ancestral garden. Black granite walls are erected on the spot of a former storage house, a space where hunched enslaved humans perished awaiting their transport to the slave market. The walls are emblazoned with lines of Maya

Angelou's poem, "And Still I Rise."

The museum's main structure does not touch the hallowed grounds on which it is located. Instead, it is hoisted above the wharf by 18 cylindrical columns. Beneath the structure is a shallow fountain tribute to the men, women and children whose bodies were inhumanely shackled together in the bellies of ships in the transatlantic slave trade.

The opening of the Charleston museum adds to a growing array of institutions dedicated to teaching an accurate history of the Black experience in America. Many will have heard of, and perhaps visited, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture in the nation's capital, which opened in 2016.

Lesser known Afrocentric museums and exhibits exist in nearly every region of the country. In Montgomery, Alabama, The Legacy Museum: From Enslavement to Mass Incarceration and the corresponding National Memorial for Peace and Justice highlight slavery, Jim Crow and the history of lynching in America. The museum has launched an initiative to develop relationships with school districts, especially in places where laws limit how public school teachers discuss race and racism in the classroom. In recent years, conservative politicians around the country have banned books in more than 5,000 schools in 32 states. Bans or limits on instruction about slavery and systemic racism have been enacted in at least 16 states since 2021.

When the doors are open, all are welcome to reckon with a fuller truth of the Black American story, said Matthews, the museum president.

"If you ask me what we want people to feel when they are in the museum, our answer is something akin to everything," she said.

"It is the epitome of our journey, the execution of our mission, to honor the untold stories of the African American journey at one of our nation's most sacred sites."

‘I Got Goosebumps’

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and Linda Earley Chastang, Lewis’ former chief of staff, were the prominent figures present.

‘Good Trouble’

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, addressing the gathering, announced that the official dedication ceremony for the John Lewis Forever stamp is scheduled for July 21 at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

DeJoy shared plans to rename Atlanta’s main post office in honor of the late congressman, acknowledging Lewis’ immeasurable contributions to the nation.

“Our nation certainly benefited from his fearlessness and his unfailing willingness to get into good trouble,” DeJoy stated.

McCarthy, a Republican from California, acknowledged the power of Lewis’ words and how they transcended party lines.

“I may be in a different party; I may have different views, but I’m an American,” McCarthy asserted. “I got goosebumps and tears thinking how far we had come and thinking that John Lewis led the march on that bridge and led the introduction that day.”

Conscience of Congress

Jeffries, the Democratic Representative from New York, expressed his belief that the stamp would forever symbolize Lewis’ significant contributions and serve as a tribute to his unwavering dedication as the conscience of Congress. He called Lewis one of the country’s greatest sons and deemed it fitting for such an influential figure to be recognized with a Forever stamp.

that simple. If he were not tased, he would be here today.”

“They are trying to George Floyd me,” Anderson said as he lay face down on the street in Venice, California on January 3. The 30-yearold died later at a hospital after body-camera footage shows him being tased at least six times by LAPD officers.

“[He is] calling out to the public when he's on the ground being tased and squashed. He’s calling for help. He was anticipating his own injury,” Douglas, said to California Black Media (CBM).

“When you think about Black people, our fear is that every time police stop us, they might do us like George Floyd,” Crump said to CBM.

The LA County Medical Examiner-Coroner reported in early June that Anderson’s cause of death was an enlarged heart and cocaine use and reported manner of death as undetermined.

The attorneys argue the report is irrelevant.

“After they assassinated him, they tried to assassinate his character. That is the strategy, tried and true, in America when the police kill Black people,” Crump said. “Look at that video, your eyes are not deceiving you. What killed [Anderson] was an overdose of lethal force, it’s

They believe the video shows that the use of force by police was inappropriate in this situation.

“It matters not whether there was cocaine in his system, because the actions of the officers were wrong. It matters not why he was in distress, because it's clear from the body camera footage that he was never a threat. He spoke to the officers politely. He was always compliant; he never balled his fist, he never kicked. He never did anything to give an officer the belief that he was a threat.

Instead, these officers acted like hammers. And when you send a hammer into a garden, they treat all the flowers like their nails,” Douglas said to CBM.

“They did not know that Keenan Anderson was a schoolteacher of high school students. They didn't know he had a five-year-old boy who loved him and he was engaged in his young son's life. They didn't know he was a role model to dozens of other kids across the country.”

“It resonated with me because I was so close to George Floyds family,” said Crump, who represented the family in a lawsuit against the city of Minneapolis.

PHOTO: Chris Carlson/AP

EDITORIAL/COMMENTARY/OPINION

REFLECTIONS ON AMERICA’S INDEPENDENCE OBSERVANCE: 2023

In addition to the attacks on which books our children can read, the efforts to outlaw any teaching dealing with the ugly truths of racism such as the attack on Critical Race Theory which most don’t even understand; the U.S. Supreme Court’s Decision on Abortion Rights; and the failure to act on gun violence and the continued murder of citizens, mostly African Americans, by law enforcement officials all provide clear proof that there is not and never was a belief “that all men are created equal and that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

By Dr. John E. Warren PUBLISHER, THE

Once again, because of where America stands today on the ever present issue of race, the following reflections are offered from the first two paragraphs of the Declaration of Independence, signed July 4, 1776. First, the preamble, which has much bearing on where we stand today as a nation:

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of t he Earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, they should declare the causes which compels them to separate…”

The Extreme Conservative Right elements of the American people, operating under the banner of the Republican Party, have provided living proof that the political “Bands” they are connected to do not include us, as people of color.

Before we get too excited about the cookouts and holiday celebrations with fireworks across this great land, let us reflect on the words of Federick Douglass which appear elsewhere in this issue, including his famous Fourth of July Speech of 1852, in Rochester, New York. Let’s look at Independence as being incomplete because of the disparity that Douglass found between Blacks and Whites. Today, although more sophisticated, disparities still exist at every level, in spite of the efforts of so many Whites who have joined with Blacks in the struggle for equality for all.

Douglas asked in his speech: “Are the great principles of political freedom and natural justice, embodied in that Declaration of Independence, extended to us?” It would appear that in 161 years, many of his questions remain unanswered. The inequality of slavery still exists today in the minds and behavior of many Americans who cannot accept that America is a melting pot of all nations.

“Out of many, one.” That melting pot includes people of color.

The key requirement is that we as people of color must never accept less than equality in all things. While we may not technically be slaves, as reminded by the recent declaration of Juneteenth as a fed-

Honoring our Past and Looking Towards the Future

By Assistant Democratic Leader James E. Clyburn (SC-06)

In 2019, my daughter Jennifer and I took part in a Congressional Delegation to Ghana that included my good friend, the late Congressman John Lewis. Our visit was to commemorate the 400 years since Blacks were forcibly taken from the continent of Africa and enslaved in America. During that visit, Jennifer and I stood silently in the “door of no return,” holding hands. I never asked her about her thoughts, and she did not ask me about mine. Last Saturday, she and her husband joined me at the dedication of the International African American Museum (IAAM) in Charleston. It is fitting that IAAM stands on the site of Gadsden’s Wharf, where nearly half of all enslaved Africans brought to this continent arrived.

When I was asked by then-Charleston Mayor Joe Riley 23 years ago to chair the steering committee to develop his vision of establishing such a museum in Charleston, I thought of the countless slaves that were stolen from their homeland, stripped of their identities, and brought to this strange land in shackles. But I also thought of the African Americans who rose above the circumstances of their ancestors and their countless descendants eager to honor their memories. I said during my dedication remarks that IAAM tells the story of perseverance through the middle passage, resistance to enslavement, triumphs over Jim Crow, and significant contributions to the greatness of this country.

eral holiday, many of us are still mentally slaves to mediocrity and the acceptance of less than what we should have. If some of us remain slaves to inequality and injustice, then the following question Douglass raised is appropriate today:

“What to the American slave, is our Fourth of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more t han any other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is constant victim; To him your celebration is a sham, our shout of liberty and equality hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and Thanksg ivings, with all your religious parade and s olemnity, are to him, mere bombast, fraud, deception impiety, and hypocrisy — a thin veil to cover crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.”

In conclusion: what should we do? We should review the America to whom Frederick Douglass spoke. We should weigh against his words how far we've come. We should Celebrate Juneteenth; the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments; the Emancipation Proclamation, which had not been thought of when Douglass wrote this speech; Civil Rights, Voting Rights, and Equal Employment Opportunity as well as an integrated Armed Forces.

Let us remember our schools are just as segregated now, based on economics rather than race, than when the Supreme Court handed down the Brown v. Board of Education Decision.

Yes, we can take time out to celebrate, but let that celebration be measured in terms of where we are and where we have yet to go.

What is the 4th of July? That which I must still fight for to make it really apply to me and those who look like me.

In the early days of our efforts, there was significant debate about the focus of the museum. But I knew we had to do justice to all 400 years of the Black experience in America. On the day we broke ground on IAAM, another good friend, Congressman Elijah Cummings, was being fu-

neralized in Baltimore, Maryland. Elijah was the great-great-grandson of Scippio Rhame, who, until he was freed in 1868, worked the same land as Elijah’s parents, who were sharecroppers.

See FUTURE page 16

SAN DIEGO VOICE & VIEWPOINT

PHOTO: NNPA

The Meaning of July Fourth for the Negro

The words of Frederick Douglass, July 5, 1852

Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there, they that carried us away captive, required of us a song; and they who wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How can we sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth.”

And am I, therefore, called upon to bring our humble offering to the national altar, and to confess the benefits and express devout gratitude for the blessings resulting from your independence to us?

Would to God, both for your sakes and ours, that an affirmative answer could be truthfully returned to these questions! Then would my task be light, and my burden easy and delightful. For who is there so cold, that a nation’s sympathy could not warm him? Who so obdurate and dead to the claims of gratitude, that would not thankfully acknowledge such priceless benefits? Who so stolid and selfish, that would not give his voice to swell the hallelujahs of a nation’s jubilee, when the chains of servitude had been torn from his limbs? I am not that man. In a case like that, the dumb might eloquently speak, and the “lame man leap as an hart.”

But such is not the state of the case. I say it with a sad sense of the disparity between us. I am not included within the pale of glorious anniversary! Your high independence only reveals the immeasurable distance between us. The blessings in which you, this day, rejoice, are not enjoyed in common. The rich inheritance of justice, liberty, prosperity and independence, bequeathed by your fathers, is shared by you, not by me. The sunlight that brought light and healing to you, has brought stripes and death to me. This Fourth July is yours, not mine. You may rejoice, I must mourn. To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony. Do you mean, citizens, to mock me, by asking me to speak to-day? If so, there is a parallel to your conduct. And let me warn you that it is dangerous to copy the example of a nation whose crimes, towering up to heaven, were thrown down by the breath of the Almighty, burying that nation in irrevocable ruin! I can to-day take up the plaintive lament of a peeled and woe-smitten people!

Fellow-citizens, above your national, tumultuous joy, I hear the mournful wail of millions! whose chains, heavy and grievous yesterday, are, to-day, rendered more intolerable by the jubilee shouts that reach them. If I do forget, if I do not faithfully remember those bleeding children of sorrow this day, “may my right hand forget her cunning, and may my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth!” To forget them, to pass lightly over their wrongs, and to chime in with the popular theme, would be treason most scandalous and shocking, and would make me a reproach before God and the world. My subject, then, fellow-citizens, is American slavery. I shall see this day and its popular characteristics from the slave’s point of view. Standing there identified with the American bondman, making his wrongs mine, I do not hesitate to declare, with all my soul, that the character and conduct of this nation never looked blacker to me than on this 4th of July! Whether we turn to the declarations of the past, or to the professions of the present, the conduct of the nation seems equally hideous and revolting. America is false to the past, false to the present, and solemnly binds herself to be false to the future. Standing with God and the crushed and bleeding slave on this occasion, I will, in the name of humanity which is outraged, in the name of liberty which is fettered, in the name of the constitution and the Bible which are disregarded and trampled upon, dare to call in question and to denounce, with all the emphasis I can command, everything that serves to perpetuate slavery-the great sin and shame of America! “I will not equivocate; I will not excuse”; I will use the severest language I can command; and yet not one word shall escape me that any man, whose judgment is not blinded by prejudice, or who is not at heart a slaveholder, shall not confess to be right and just.

But I fancy I hear some one of my audience say, “It is just in this circumstance that you and your brother abolitionists fail to make a favorable impression on the public mind. Would you argue more, and denounce less; would you persuade more, and rebuke less; your cause would be much more likely to succeed.” But, I submit, where all is plain there is nothing to be argued. What point in the anti-slavery creed would you have me argue? On what branch of the subject do the people of this country need light? Must I undertake to prove that the slave is a man? That point is conceded already. Nobody doubts it. The slaveholders themselves acknowledge it in the enactment of laws for their government. They

acknowledge it when they punish disobedience on the part of the slave. There are seventy-two crimes in the State of Virginia which, if committed by a black man (no matter how ignorant he be), subject him to the punishment of death; while only two of the same crimes will subject a white man to the like punishment. What is this but the acknowledgment that the slave is a moral, intellectual, and responsible being? The manhood of the slave is conceded. It is admitted in the fact that Southern statute books are covered with enactments forbidding, under severe fines and penalties, the teaching of the slave to read or to write. When you can point to any such laws in reference to the beasts of the field, then I may consent to argue the manhood of the slave. When the dogs in your streets, when the fowls of the air, when the cattle on your hills, when the fish of the sea, and the reptiles that crawl, shall be unable to distinguish the slave from a brute, then will I argue with you that the slave is a man!

God speed the year of jubilee

The wide world o’er!

When from their galling chains set free, Th’ oppress’d shall vilely bend the knee, And wear the yoke of tyranny

Like brutes no more.

That year will come, and freedom’s reign, To man his plundered rights again Restore.

God speed the day when human blood Shall cease to flow!

In every clime be understood, The claims of human brotherhood, And each return for evil, good, Not blow for blow;

That day will come all feuds to end, And change into a faithful friend Each foe.

God speed the hour, the glorious hour, When none on earth Shall exercise a lordly power, Nor in a tyrant’s presence cower; But to all manhood’s stature tower, By equal birth!

That hour will come, to each, to all, And from his Prison-house, to thrall Go forth.

Until that year, day, hour, arrive, With head, and heart, and hand I’ll strive, To break the rod, and rend the gyve, The spoiler of his prey deprive -So witness Heaven!

And never from my chosen post, Whate’er the peril or the cost, Be driven.

For the present, it is enough to affirm the equal manhood of the Negro race. Is it not astonishing that, while we are ploughing, planting, and reaping, using all kinds of mechanical tools, erecting houses, constructing bridges, building ships, working in metals of brass, iron, copper, silver and gold; that, while we are reading, writing and ciphering, acting as clerks, merchants and secretaries, having among us lawyers, doctors, ministers, poets, authors, editors, orators and teachers; that, while we are engaged in all manner of enterprises common to other men, digging gold in California, capturing the whale in the Pacific, feeding sheep and cattle on the hill-side, living, moving, acting, thinking, planning, living in families as husbands, wives and children, and, above all, confessing and worshiping the Christian’s God, and looking hopefully for life and immortality beyond the grave, we are called upon to prove that we are men!

Would you have me argue that man is entitled to liberty? that he is the

rightful owner of his own body? You have already declared it. Must I argue the wrongfulness of slavery? Is that a question for Republicans? Is it to be settled by the rules of logic and argumentation, as a matter beset with great difficulty, involving a doubtful application of the principle of justice, hard to be understood? How should I look today, in the presence of Amercans, dividing, and subdividing a discourse, to show that men have a natural right to freedom? speaking of it relatively and positively, negatively and affirmatively. To do so, would be to make myself ridiculous, and to offer an insult to your understanding. There is not a man beneath the canopy of heaven that does not know that slavery is wrong for him.

What, am I to argue that it is wrong to make men brutes, to rob them of their liberty, to work them without wages, to keep them ignorant of their relations to their fellow men, to beat them with sticks, to flay their flesh with the lash, to load their limbs with irons, to hunt them with dogs, to sell them at auction, to sunder their families, to knock out their teeth, to burn their flesh, to starve them into obedience and submission to their masters? Must I argue that a system thus marked with blood, and stained with pollution, is wrong? No! I will not. I have better employment for my time and strength than such arguments would imply. What, then, remains to be argued? Is it that slavery is not divine; that God did not establish it; that our doctors of divinity are mistaken? There is blasphemy in the thought. That which is inhuman, cannot be divine! Who can reason on such a proposition? They that can, may; I cannot. The time for such argument is passed.

At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. O! had I the ability, and could reach the nation’s ear, I would, to-day, pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be proclaimed and denounced.

What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July? I answer; a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. To him, your celebration is a sham; your boasted liberty, an unholy license; your national greatness, swelling van ity; your sounds of rejoicing are empty and heartless; your denunciation of tyrants, brass fronted impudence; your shouts of liberty and equality, hollow mockery; your prayers and hymns, your sermons and thanksgivings, with all your religious parade and solemnity, are, to Him, mere bom bast, fraud, deception, impiety, and hypocrisy -- a thin veil to cover up crimes which would disgrace a nation of savages.There is not a nation on

the earth guilty of practices more shocking and bloody than are the people of the United States, at this very hour.

Go where you may, search where you will, roam through all the monarchies and despotisms of the Old World, travel through South America, search out every abuse, and when you have found the last, lay your facts by the side of the everyday practices of this nation, and you will say with me, that, for revolting barbarity and shameless hypocrisy, America reigns without a rival....

...Allow me to say, in conclusion, notwithstanding the dark picture I have this day presented, of the state of the nation, I do not despair of this country. There are forces in operation which must inevitably work the downfall of slavery. “The arm of the Lord is not shortened,” and the doom of slavery is certain. I, therefore, leave off where I began, with hope. While drawing encouragement from “the Declaration of Independence,” the great principles it contains, and the genius of American Institutions, my spirit is also cheered by the obvious tendencies of the age. Nations do not now stand in the same relation to each other that they did ages ago. No nation can now shut itself up from the surrounding world and trot round in the same old path of its fathers without interference. The time was when such could be done. Long established customs of hurtful character could formerly fence themselves in, and do their evil work with social impunity. Knowledge was then confined and enjoyed by the privileged few, and the multitude walked on in mental darkness. But a change has now come over the affairs of mankind. Walled cities and empires have become unfashionable. The arm of commerce has borne away the gates of the strong city. Intelligence is penetrating the darkest corners of the globe. It makes its pathway over and under the sea, as well as on the earth. Wind, steam, and lightning are its chartered agents. Oceans no longer divide, but link nations together. From Boston to London is now a holiday excursion. Space is comparatively annihilated. -- Thoughts expressed on one side of the Atlantic are distinctly heard on the other.

The far off and almost fabulous Pacific rolls in grandeur at our feet. The Celestial Empire, the mystery of ages, is being solved. The fiat of the Almighty, “Let there be Light,” has not yet spent its force. No abuse, no outrage whether in taste, sport or avarice, can now hide itself from the all-pervading light. The iron shoe, and crippled foot of China must be seen in contrast with nature. Africa must rise and put on her yet unwoven garment. ‘Ethiopia, shall, stretch out her hand unto God.” In the fervent aspirations of William Lloyd Garrison, I say, and let every heart join in saying it:

Frederick Douglass (1994) by Lloyd Lillie. Museum of African

The Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass, Volume II, Pre-Civil War Decade 1850-1860 Philip S. Foner, International Publishers Co., Inc., New York, 1950

Frederick Douglass. National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution (CCO)

By Latanya

Frederick Douglass is arguably one of the most influential figures in American history. An internationally renowned orator, statesman, anti-slavery crusader, and author, the child born Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, came to exemplify what is best and most enduring about American ideals and the promise of our country’s constitution.

Douglass used words to eloquently and unapologetically speak, write, and educate northern whites about American slavery. He unapologetically named in detail after detail slavery’s horrific injustices, white slavemasters’ and even religious abolitionists’’ moral ineptitude, and called to task northern whites who turned a blind eye to slavery’s insidiousness. He called on all Americans to look directly and unflinchingly at slavery’s cost, not only for America’s slaves, but also for the entire nation.

At a time when freedom was only a vague promise on the horizon for most black Americans, Douglass was a resounding voice of hope, justice, and dignity for African Americans. He elevated the national discussion on slavery, helping to hasten its demise.

Here is a brief biography of the man known as the “Prophet of Freedom”:

EARLY LIFE

Douglass’ early life was lonely and tragic. Born a slave sometime in 1818 in Talbot County, Maryland, Frederick Douglass’ father was rumored to be his mother’s white slave owner. His mother, who was enslaved on a nearby plantation, would walk twelve miles to visit her son until her untimely death when Frederick was a young boy. Viewed as property to be bought, sold, or transferred in ownership, Douglass was hired out as cheap labor to a number of slave masters.

Long before his physical freedom, Frederick was liberated by the power of words. Ignoring the laws of the times, one of Frederick’s slave mistresses taught him the alphabet. It proved to be a transformative event in Douglass’ life. He recounts

FREDERICK DOUGLASS: Self-Made “Prophet of Freedom”

in his 1845 bestselling autobiography that “Learning the alphabet gave me the key to reading; I took that key and, with a little help from my friends, learned how to read, thus becoming a free man in my mind.” With an audacious sense of purpose that flowered as he matured into adulthood, the young Frederick convinced his white childhood friends to teach him to read and write in exchange for food. He read at every opportunity, even after being sold into hard slave labor in rural Maryland. His steely desire for knowledge never faltered. He soon organized a Sunday school for fellow slaves and quickly earned a reputation for being a headstrong troublemaker.

Frederick’s magnetic stage presence and powerful personal story that he enlisted him to lecture with the American Anti-Slavery Society at meeting halls across the Eastern and Midwestern United States. It was often dangerous work. Douglas became known for his clear, direct, and articulate oratory style. He spoke truthfully and eloquently about his life as a slave, sometimes inciting riotous mobs that weren’t ready to face the American south’s horrifying and

He recounts in his 1882 autobiography, The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass, that his home served as one of the Underground Railroad’s main stations and helped spirit runaway slaves to Canada and freedom.

Douglass’ fame and influence grew as the abolitionist movement and the political winds of change brought the issue of slavery to the forefront of American politics. His second autobiography, My Bondage and My Freedom, is a more detailed account of his life as a slave and his evolution as a thinking, self-made man who valued faith and literacy. When the Civil War broke out, Douglass’ morally persuasive arguments against slavery were at the vanguard of slavery’s demise.

African-American Civil War veterans during the Reconstruction era. Buoyed by the Civil War victory but bitterly disturbed by the failures of Reconstruction, Douglass was a vigorous opponent of Jim Crow segregation until his death from a heart attack in 1895.

ENDURING LEGACY

In 1836, Douglass impersonated a sailor and escaped to freedom during a time when abolitionist fervor was growing across the U.S. He married Anna Murray, a free black woman instrumental in his escape, and settled in New Bedford, Massachusetts. While working as a laborer to support his young family Douglass began to frequent anti-slavery rallies. He was soon up on stage, reluctantly but powerfully sharing his story.

VANGUARD OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT

1841 proved to be a fateful year for Douglass. He gave his first major speech at the Massachusetts AntiSlavery Society’s annual convention and launched his influential career as an antislavery crusader. The famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison was so moved by

morally inept “peculiar institution.”

Douglass’ first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, mentioned details about his life as a slave, including the name and residence of his former master. To avoid recapture, Frederick spent two years touring and lecturing to abolitionists in Great Britain. The tour earned him international fame and he returned to the States intent on helping African Americans gain the freedoms he enjoyed while abroad.

In 1847 he began publication on The North Star, his uniquely successful and influential anti-slavery newspaper, so named for the bright star said to guide fugitive slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad. In numerous speeches, writings, and publications, Douglass doggedly promoted the end of slavery. During this time, Douglass was also a conductor on the Rochester, New York arm of the Underground Railroad.

When Douglass spoke, national leaders paid attention. Douglass outspokenly called for the right of black men to fight for their freedom and boldly petitioned President Lincoln for the fair and equal treatment of African American men in uniform. He helped recruit troops for the first official Civil War infantry of free northern black men. Immortalized in the 1989 movie Glory, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment significantly contributed to the war’s effort in the famed fight for Fort Wagner and helped legitimize black troops. Never one to shy away from controversy, Douglass was also an early supporter of the women’s suffrage movement.

LATER YEARS

After the Civil War, the former slave continued his appointment with destiny. In the mid-1870’s, Douglass moved to Washington, DC and served in a number of prominent presidential appointments: U.S. Marshall (1877 –1881) and Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia (1881 –1886). He was chargé d’affaires for Santo Domingo and minister to Haiti (1889-1891). In 1874 he was appointed President of the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, popularly known as the Freedman’s Savings Bank, the first savings institution established by the U.S. government to assist former slaves and

Cedar Hill, Douglass’ family home, is maintained as a part of the National Park Service and was designated a National Historic Site in 1988. His great great granddaughter Nettie Washington Douglass established the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives to preserve his legacy and create awareness about modern day slavery, which today affects an estimated 27 million people worldwide. Visit www.fdfi. org to learn more.

West Voice & Viewpoint Managing Editor

Cedar Hill Frederick Douglass’ Home in Anacostia, Washington, D.C., as it appears today. (photo credit NPS)

Douglass in his Cedar Hill library c1890. (NPS)

(photo

Douglass’ Newspaper, The North Star. (NMAAHC)

The Frederick Douglass stamp, issued June 29, 1995 to honor the 130th Anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

The Frederick Douglass stamp, issued February

Anna Murray Douglass (1813-1882) married Frederisk Douglass in 1838 shortly after helping him escape from slavery. (NPS)

Frederick Douglass, Jr. (1842-1892) was the third child of Anna and Frederick Douglass (NPS).

Charles Redmond Douglass (1844-1920) was the fourth child of Anna and Frederick Douglass. (NPS)

Lewis Henry Douglass (1840-1908) was the second child of Anna and Frederick Douglass. (NPS)

Rosetta Douglass Sprague (1839-1906) was the first child of Anna and Frederick Douglass. (NPS)

Pulitzer-winning Cartoonist Darrin Bell Pens Powerful Graphic Memoir

By Donna Edwards Associated Press

“The Talk” by Darrin Bell (Henry Holt & Company)

Seeing the other children at the park playing with water guns, Darrin asks his mom for one. Her immediate response: No.

Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist Darrin Bell’s graphic memoir “The Talk” begins around age 6, when his mom first has “the talk” with him - the one about racism, fear and police brutality and the reason he can’t have a realistic water gun like the other kids. It follows him into adulthood, when he is confronted with having the talk with his own son. The result is a thought-provoking memoir beautifully rendered in expressive artwork for a powerful piece that’s easy to devour but harder to digest.

From anxiety-inducing encounters with the police to the space shuttle Challenger’s failed mission and explosion, Bell presents his childhood with a graphic vulnerability. Jumping into young Darrin’s mind, showing him as Luke Skywalker training with Yoda, Bell captures the imagination of a

child so thoroughly that the heavy, adult topic of police brutality stands in even starker contrast. Both metaphorical and artistic contrast are well-used in “The Talk.”

Cool blue and black tones illustrate each page. Sparks of vibrant green and red, and even full-spectrum color, highlight and intensify something as small as an object within a panel, or as big as a full-page spread. The line work is fairly simple but the shading is complex. Faces are expressive but rarely cross the line into cartoonish. The lettering is a highly readable alternative to Comic Sans that retains the handwritten look.

A chapter set in 2015 with a hopeful end is immediately contrasted when the next chapter, set a few months later, begins with a hateful, racist quote in red against a black background that readers

will immediately recognize as Donald Trump’s words.

Presenting the quote stark and glowing, Bell asks readers to consider that this rhetoric got a man elected to the highest position in the United States government. There’s a series of close-ups on Trump’s eyes that reflect scenes of nationalism and violence. The depictions’ broader color palette adds emphasis, undercutting the next, mostly monochrome scene, depicting Bell reflecting on his Pulitzer win for editorial cartoons calling out the Trump administration.

Rather than an exuberant, brightly colored celebration, Bell depicts the scene as dull, depressing, drained of life. But not all the stories are so heavy. The chapter “All The Way Down” is about Bell making friends who become his core crowd. It captures the uneasiness of injecting yourself into a friend group, as well as the joy of being accepted and appreciated as part of that group.

In his acknowledgments, Bell says penning the book made him feel those feelings anew. And it shows. The images and words practically vibrate with feeling: palpably hot anger and cold isolation

New Children’s Book Further Dispels Myths about Black Fathers

By Stacy M. Brown NNPA Newswire Senior National Correspondent

For centuries, there’s been a false assumption that Black fathers are absent, apathetic, and uninvolved in their children’s lives. The stereotype of the absent Black dad remains quite ubiquitous in popular culture.

It often takes the form of a dysfunctional family unit, but in recent years, studies have proven that the stereotype is nothing more than a myth. That legend is further vaporized in the new children’s book, “I Love My Daddy,” by Maryland social worker and military veteran Juanita Banks Whittington.

The 27-page book, complete with fascinating illustrations by Ananta Mohanta, celebrates what Whittington calls “the unique and special bond between a father and his little girl.” It follows a father and his baby girl, who play together in parks, and the doting dad reads bedtime stories each night to his beloved daughter.

For Whittington, the book opens her home to readers. It reveals the camaraderie between her and her husband, Ian, and his routine of doting on their daughter, Zuri.

“My husband reads to my daughter every night,” Whittington told the National Newspaper Publishers Association’s “Let It Be Known”.

She said her husband helped inspire her to write a children’s book about the relationship between a Black father and his child.

“He kept telling me he wasn’t seeing Black fathers in children’s books,” Whittington said. “There was always the grandmother and child, or the mother and the child. So, I went to friends and family members, and

they said they liked the idea, and I went forward and found an illustrator that I liked.” She noted that it was a must that the illustrator could relate.

“And he was everything I was looking for, especially in the illustration to portray all the things that go on in my household,” Whittington said.

A military veteran and social worker, Whittington is the founder of Nehi Cares, a consulting, foundation, and wellness business that focuses on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion and helps individuals understand the foundations of wellness by practicing healthy habits daily to attain better physical, social, emotional, and mental health outcomes.

Whittington holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Baltimore and a master’s in social work from the University of Maryland, Baltimore. Her friends and loved ones said Whittington has always displayed a passion for helping, which comes across in “I Love My Daddy.”

“I wanted to make sure that I did [the book] right,” Whittington explained. “I wanted to make sure that it was something that other families could relate to. So many people have said they wanted to write a children’s book after seeing and talking with me, so I wanted to portray something positive.”

She continued, “Many times, in our community, there’s this negativity about Black fathers, so I wanted to make sure that, regardless of their race, people could pick this book up and say, ‘It’s awesome. I could relate to this, and I want this for my child.’”

“I Love My Daddy” retails on Amazon.com for $14.99.

Darrin Bell accepts the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Cartooning from Columbia University President Lee Bollinger.

PHOTO: Eileen Barroso/ Columbia University

PHOTO: NNPA

The images and words practically vibrate with feeling: palpably hot anger and cold isolation and warm affection.

and warm affection. Seeing him make the choice after George Floyd was murdered to preserve his then-6-yearold son’s innocence for one

more day, one more month, during the already tenuous early pandemic, is enough to draw tears.

Bell’s mastery of the medium shines throughout “The Talk” with stunning artwork that heightens the story to 11.

Nigeria’s Leader Replaces Security Chiefs in Major Shakeup

By Chinedu Asadu Associated Press

President Bola Tinubu has replaced the chiefs of all of Nigeria’s security services in a major shakeup that takes effect immediately, the presidency said two weeks ago.

Sierra Leone Readies for Presidential Election Amid Economic Crisis

By Kemo Cham and Sam Mednick Associated Press

With mounting frustration due to an ailing economy, rising unemployment and looming deadly protests, Sierra Leoneans are heading to the polls on Saturday, June 24, to select their next president.

Thirteen people are vying for the top job in the west African country. But experts say it’s likely to be a two-horse race between incumbent President Julius Maada Bio - elected in 2018 and fighting for his second term - and Samura Kamara, the head of the All People’s Congress Party, Sierra Leone’s main opposition camp.

The winner needs 55% of the vote to clinch victory in the first round or it goes into a runoff within two weeks.

Africa.

Multiple deadly anti-government protests rocked the country, with calls for Bio to step down. Fueled by a rise in cost of living, the latest one in August, left dozens dead, including security forces.

As of April, Sierra Leone, which has one of the world’s weakest currencies, saw inflation rise to more than 43% - from a high of more than 41% in March - and the exchange rate against the U.S. Dollar is under pressure, according to economic analysts.

A former military head of state, Bio came to power promising to end rampant corruption. Analysts say that he had invested in improving education in the country and took steps to fight rampant corruption. The country ranked 110 on Transparency International’s index in 2022, moving up from 129 when he took office. But the weak economy has drawn criticism, with Sierra Leoneans taking to the streets protesting widespread poverty.

Bio coined his current presidential campaign, “The People’s Manifesto 2023,” promising to “solidify gains” made during his tenure.

A statement from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation’s office said replacements were named to lead the military and police as the West African nation struggles with conflicts in several regions as well as violent crime. The shakeup changed the heads of the army, air force, navy, police and defense intelligence.

Nigeria is confronted by a variety of security problems, including an Islamic extremist insurgency linked to the Islamic State group in the northeast, rebels in the northwest and secessionists in the southeast.

Thousands have been killed in the last year amid worsening fighting.

Tinubu took office as president in May with security as a top priority of his administration. On his first day in office, he said: “We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number. We shall provide better training, equipment, pay, and firepower.”

Analysts have said the security threats facing Africa’s most populous nation and biggest economy are mainly due to limited resources, which leave Nigerian security forces often outgunned and outnumbered in violent hotspots.

Meanwhile, Tinubu also dissolved the governing boards of all government agencies with new boards expected to be formed and approved by the legislature in the coming weeks.

Britain Royal Ascot FashionPictures of the Week

London (Associated Press)

At Royal Ascot, the hats are almost as important as the horses. Every summer, British royals and thousands of others get dressed to the nines for Royal Ascot, a glamorous annual horse racing event that dates back to 1711, when Queen Anne founded Ascot Racecourse in southern England.

The outfits are fancy but the hats are the main fashion attraction - extrav-

agant, elaborate and sometimes gravity-defying. Some 300,000 visitors usually attend the Royal Ascot over five days. This year, King Charles III and Queen Camilla were among them, and some attendees at Ladies Day Thursday said they had designed their hats specifically to pay tribute to the new monarch. Charles and Camilla are carrying on the tradition of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who died in September. She was an avid horse lover, owner and breeder.

More than three million people are registered to vote in the coming week. This would mark the country’s fifth presidential election since the end of a brutal 11-year civil war - more than two decades ago - which left tens of thousands dead and destroyed the country’s economy.

Sierra Leone had witnessed two peaceful transfers of power since, from the ruling party to the opposition party.

Bio has been facing increasing criticism because of debilitating economic conditions. Nearly 60% of Sierra Leone’s population of more than seven million are facing poverty, with youth unemployment being one of the highest in West

The election also comes during a surge of regional political upheaval, with deadly clashes between supporters of the opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, and police in Senegal as well as military coups in Burkina Faso and Mali. Thus, Sierra Leone having a peaceful vote is of greater importance, say analysts.

This week’s vote is expected to be a tight race. It will be a reverse of the 2018 presidential elections when Bio - at the time representing the opposition party - faced Kamara from the then-ruling party, whom the former president had handpicked as his successor. Bio, at the time, narrowly beat Kamara in a runoff by a margin of less than 5%, mainly because of support in the southern and eastern districts.

Kamara garnered support from the north and west regions.

Bio’s opponent, Kamara, a seasoned politician who served in various government positions including as foreign minister, is running while facing corruption charges, since 2021, of allegedly embezzling public funds from a renovation project in New York during his time as minister. His case is set to be heard in court by mid-July. He’s hoping to catapult support by promising to fix the country’s economic woes.

Nigeria Qualifies for African Cup, Tanzania’s Ball Boys Ejected

By Gerald Imray Associated Press Sports Writer

Nigeria qualified for next year’s African Cup of Nations by beating Sierra Leone 3-2 on Sunday thanks to a winning goal in the fifth minute of added time by Kelechi Iheanacho, while Tanzania held on for a crucial home victory over Niger despite a bizarre late incident when the referee ejected Tanzanian ball boys for interfering with play.

In Tanzania, the ball boys threw numerous balls onto the field on at least two occasions, apparently to force the referee to stop play as Niger launched late attacks in search of an equalizing goal.

Tanzania still held on for a 1-0 win through Saimon Msuva’s 69thminute goal, putting it in pole position to qualify from Group F behind Algeria, which has already booked its place at the Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Tanzania needs a point away at Algeria in the last round of qual -

ifiers in September to take the group’s second qualifying place ahead of East African rival Uganda.

Algeria beat Uganda 2-1 later Sunday with a double by winger Mohamed El Amine Amoura.

Nigeria appeared on course for a fairly straightforward victory over Sierra Leone after two goals from Victor Osimhen put it 2-0 ahead after 32 minutes and put the Napoli striker level with Sadio Mane as the leading scorers in the qualifiers with five.

Sierra Leone pulled one back before halftime and equalized in the 84th minute through Augustus Kargbo.

There were about 55 seconds left to play when Nigeria left-back Zaidu Sanusi cut through the defense and provided a cross for Leicester’s Iheanacho to tap in to take the Super Eagles to the African Cup. Guinea-Bissau also qualified from Group A alongside Nigeria.

Mane’s Senegal, World Cup semifinalist Morocco, Egypt and Algeria have all qualified, with Egypt securing its place last week by coming from behind to beat Guinea 2-1. Morocco surprisingly lost 2-1 in South Africa on Saturday, although both had already qualified.

Five-time African champion Cameroon and four-time champion Ghana are the biggest teams still to seal their places in Ivory Coast and both face nervous final qualifiers.

Cameroon’s fate will be decided in a home game against Burundi in September, by which time the Cameroonians could have slipped down to third in their group.

Ghana was held 0-0 in Madagascar on Sunday when a win would have meant qualification and now must get at least a draw at home to Central African Republic in its last qualifier. Ghana tops Group E but only two points separate it, Angola in second and Central African Republic in third.

Nigeria’s new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, inspects honor guards after taking an oath of office at a ceremony in Abuja, Nigeria, May 29, 2023.

PHOTO: Olamikan Gbemiga via AP

A woman walks past a polling station in Freetown,

PHOTO: Alastair Grant/AP

Racegoers Elizabeth Allen, left, and Cassandra Gravesande arrive for the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England.

PHOTO: Alastair Grant/AP

Racegoer Lystra Adam poses for photographers during Ladies Day of the Royal Ascot horse racing meeting, at Ascot Racecourse in Ascot, England, Thursday, June 22, 2023.

PHOTO: Alastair Grant/AP

“We shall invest more in our security personnel, and this means more than an increase in number.”

–Bola Tinubu

The Jacobs Center hosted their Health Resource Fair at their Celebration Court last Saturday with the goal of bringing accessible health resources to the Fourth District residents.

Heath presentations, glucose and blood-pressure testing, and a wide variety of health screenings were available for attendees of the health fair.

“It’s very important for us to be out here in the community so people can see us and talk with us. Some people, especially in the Black experience, are hesitant about going to health providers that don’t look like them [amongst] a variety of other reasons,” Black Nurses Association’s Anna Stukes said. “We are really into awareness and prevention and

have so much advice for people we want to help before anything cat astrophic and irreversible happens.

JIREH Providers had a heavy presence at the event. They set up shop with multiple community services for their free Health & Wellness resource Fair.

Project New Village’s People’s Produce Mobile Farmers Market served up fresh fruits and veggies, which was a big hit with the crowd, capping off a health conscious day.

Contributing Writer, Darrel Wheeler AND VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

JIREH Providers’ Monthly Health Event Gives Ease to Community Elders

trust. With many people in the urban community having a distrust due to bad experiences with the medical industry, JIREH Providers offers a breath of fresh air.

By Malachi Kudura CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The 4th Friday of every month, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., JIREH Providers gives free Flu Vaccinations, Covid-19 Vaccinations, Boosters, and free Covid-19 tests at the George Stevens Senior Resource Center. This offers the elders in the community an opportunity to be completely vaccinated at no cost.

“JIREH Providers are the best. A good leader knows how to follow. If they tell me to get five shots I will. They will even come to your house to get you vaccinated,” said Rosemary Pope, Executive Director of the George Stevens Senior Center. She was the first to receive her Covid-19 Booster Friday.

JIREH’s mission is to decrease health disparities in the underserved communities & people of color. Jireh In Hebrew means “God is my Provider”. The community healthcare company’s name JIREH is an acronym meaning Joint Initiatives for Racial Equity in Health.

JIREH is dedicated to providing the people in the Southeast community services they can

“I’ve been in nursing for over 20 years and one of the reasons I stepped out of practice 2 years ago is in all of that time I have not been able to reach the community in the way that I wanted to. I want to be able to take care of our Black

and Brown communities [and] give them the attention they need and deserve,” said Samantha Williams, FNP who is the Founder and CEO of JIREH Providers.

“There are a lot of health disparities that exist in our community. Right now, cardiovascular disease is the number one killer in our community. Seven out of the ten diseases that affect our community are all chronic diseases. Those are things we can do something about,” Williams continued.

The term “Health is the new Wealth” is very true to its core meaning. Without having a healthy mind, body and spirit, monetary riches only go so far. So, it is important to educate ourselves on the many ways we can keep up and maintain our health.

Jackie Jackson Kilwins Chicago

“Thanks

(Left to right) JIREH Providers Founder & CEO Samantha Williams, FNP and George Stevens Senior Resource Center Exec. Dir. Rosemary Pope.

PHOTOS: Malachi Kudurar

The presence of the Lord was definitely on the GODRadio1 Gospel Fest stages at the Del Mar Fairgrounds as performers blessed the Coors Light and Paddock stages all day last Saturday.

For seventeen years in a row, Gospel on Demand (GOD) Radio1, a product of M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records Inc., has hosted the Gospel Fest at the Del Mar Fair, serving as the only gospel concert at any fairground in the nation. This year, seventeen gospel artists and choirs took to the Coors Light Avenue and Chevrolet Paddock stages to spread the musical message of Christ to thousands of fair-goers from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

17 thAnnual Gospel Fest

By Amara N. Beaty VOICE & VIEWPOINT STAFF WRITER

The lineup included fan-favorites Men 4 Christ, SWRC (Southwest Riverside County) Community Choir, Elder John Bernard Jr. & choir, and Eddie Baltrip & Fulfillment. Attendees who traveled from near and as far as St. Louis, Missouri could be seen singing and dancing along to crowd favorites and even some unreleased music unashamedly proclaiming their love for Christ and praising the Lord out loud!

At the end of next month, July 29th, GODRadio1 and M.A.N.D.A.T.E. Records Inc. will be hosting another can’t-miss event, the 10th Annual Bayside Gospel Concert Aboard the USS Midway with Maurette Brown Clark and Oral Roberts University Worship headlining the benefit concert. Tickets can be purchased on the “Events” tab of the GODRadio1 website.

When you switch off, California stays on.

When you get a Flex Alert, reduce your power use to help ease the grid and avoid statewide outages. The more people that save their energy for later, the more likely we keep the lights on.

PHOTOS: Amara N. Beaty

Members of Men 4 Christ

Members of Elder John Bernard Jr.’s choir

Members of SWRC Community Choir

Member of Eddie Baltrip & Fulfillment

FOOTBALL and PHYSICAL WELLNESS CAMP TEACHES YOUTH NEW SKILLS

By Darrel Wheeler CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the summer football camp season continues, Apex Creation Enterprise in conjunction with the Day II Day Foundation took their turn at teaching football last Saturday at Lincoln High School's Vic Player Stadium.

Kids from elementary and middle school were invited to attend the free camp to learn some football fundamentals and some drills to enhance their skills.

"I especially like this age group because they are not as narrow minded yet, as older kids and adults can be, and they are very expressive at this stage in life,” ACE CEO and camp instructor Neno Jones shared.

"We want to catch them now and teach them some important facts about life and how to succeed in life, with or without sports,” continued Jones. "The football camp is one of our ways to work with them.

We will be doing more camps and a lot more events in the future.”

The campers were able to run, catch, throw, and learn some new football techniques from some of Lincoln's State Championship coaching staff.

"I came here today to help me

The San Diego College of Continuing Education (SDCCE) is one of California’s largest noncredit colleges, serving 40,000 students annually.

SDCCE is focused on serving refugees, immigrants, and underserved populations who need workforce training. Many students begin their career journey at SDCCE and then prepares them for immediate employment or can transition to San Diego City, Mesa or Miramar colleges.

80+ certificates in 9 career technical education pathways

and Accounting

get better at football so I can go to college, hopefully at SDSU," happy camper Gregory Mills of Holly-drive leadership Academy said. "My Grandpa coaches here (J. Stutts) and he has a lot of Championship trophies and medals. I learned a lot today. It was fun. I would definitely come back again."

PHOTOS: Darrel Wheeler

Rising Inflation is Impacting Mental Health. How the Country is Coping

It’s no secret that the country is feeling the pinch from inflation and the rising costs of goods and services, with 48% of Americans struggling to make ends meet financially, according to the latest data from Dynata’s Global Consumer Trends survey. That’s up from 34% in August of last year. These circumstances are having a significant impact on wellness, with 53% of respondents attributing financial difficulties as being an extremely or very important contributing factor to their worsening mental health since before the pandemic. Women are feeling the impacts most. Nearly six in 10 women – 57% – say financial difficulties are the largest con tributor to a decline in their mental health vs. 44% of men who say the same.

Many Americans however are finding new ways to ease the burden on their mental health. Here are a few of the habits and atti tudes that have helped those who report hav- • Spending time with loved

The pandemic was a long period of separation for many, but with life back to normal, spending time with loved ones has been a proven way to boost mental health, with 74% of respondents seeing an improvement.

Now is a great time to sit back and take some time to relax, as 73% reported an improvement in their mental health from just taking time to rest.

• Cooking and healthy eating. The pandemic gave many a chance to spend more time in the kitchen cooking their favorite meals. Seventy-two percent of respondents attribute cooking and healthy eating to helping improve their

mental health. During these difficult financial times, spending more time in the kitchen can be a great way to help ease stress, save money on meals and of course, reap the physical and mental benefits of a good, balanced meal.

• Work-life balance. This has been a stressful time for employees, with news of layoffs coming almost daily, on top of the already existing financial stressors. However, 72% of respondents attribute achieving a better work-life balance to lowering stress levels and improving their mental health. For full survey results, visit https://www. dynata.com.

While many Americans are feeling the pinch right now, the good news is that proven coping strategies can help lighten the mental load.

Whether it is natural, permed, pressed or locked, hair is an essential part of one’s style and personality. Hair can accentuate one’s mood and complement any attire. Though it can be formed into what is trendy and fashionable, it is often overlooked and neglected.

“As wonderful as it is to have your hair looking great, it is even more important to invest in keeping it healthy,” says Dirk Evans, “The Hair Care Doctor”. “If it is not healthy, it’s not hair.”

Evans, a licensed cosmetologist from Detroit, Michigan recently released “Home Hair Care Help,” a book targeted to young African American women regarding

their hair care. The 96-page book guides women to necessary instruction for maintaining and obtaining healthy hair. Using his twenty six years of hair care knowledge, Evans gives advice on such topics as how to prevent hair breakage and how to produce hair growth.

He acknowledges that everyone is different in the type of maintenance they need. According to Evans, people with chemically treated hair should moisturize their hair daily because of the mixture of heat and chemicals. Those with natural hairstyles and fine textured hair should moisturize as well but not as much.

“Because overheating is a common problem of black hair, chemical and stress protein and moisture bind -

ing products are the best for black hair. Currently there is a product line that is available by Soft Sheen/Carson called Breakthru; this product is enhanced with a new technology called Ceramide.”

“I have had a problem of consistently maintaining my hair while at school,” says Courtney Battle, a sophomore at Howard University. “I can’t always rely on the salons in the area to do a proficient job, so I do it myself when I can.

Tonie Stovall, a freshman of Florida A&M University agrees. “It is hard and expensive trying to keep my hair up at school. If I did have the proper education, I would do my hair a lot more but until then I will go to the salon.”

Dirk Evans, the “Hair Care Doctor” says he wrote “Home

Hair Care Help,” with the college student in mind. He suggests that students study his tips and instructions and work together in applying them to one another’s hair in order to cut down on cost and products.

Many students have found alternative ways to cut down on the cost of hair maintenance.

Pearl Plumboy, a legal communications major of Howard University says “when I can’t get my hair done, I will wear cornrow braids, which saves me money and cuts down on the amount of heat applied to my hair.”

Evans always advises that women educate themselves on the techniques and products that are applied to their hair.

“The sooner African American women know how to

care for their hair, the better because their hair’s healthiness will have longevity.”

For more information on hair care, contact Dirk Evans at www.HomeHairCareHelp. com.

Two bills aimed at equipping K-12 students with the ability to discern between accurate and false news -- and teach them media literacy, more broadly – are currently progressing through the California legislature.

Assembly Bill (AB) 873, authored by Assemblymember Marc Berman (D-Menlo Park), and AB 787 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (DWoodland) would mandate that schools in California offer instruction at every grade level to promote a more informed and civically engaged society.

As of June 7, both AB 873 and AB 787 are pending review on the Senate floor and have been referred to the Education Committee.

“Children today are being inundated by misinformation and disinformation on social media networks and digital platforms,” Berman said in a May statement. “The last few years have been a terrifying wake-up call to the insidious nature of online misinformation, from jeopardizing public health, to threatening the foundation of our democracy, to dangerously rewriting history. Anyone who spends much time on social media could greatly benefit from media literacy training.”

Media literacy, also known as information literacy, develops students’ critical thinking skills around all types of media platforms and instructs students to evaluate online information that affects them, their communities, and the world.

AB 873 intends to direct the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to incorporate media literacy content into the English language arts/English language development,

science, mathematics, and history-social science curriculum frameworks when those frameworks are next revised.

A growing number of states are now requiring schools to educate students in media and information literacy, including New Jersey, Illinois, and Delaware.

“This bill is an important step to help ensure young people are equipped with the relevant media and informational literacy skills so critical in the 21st century,” said Nicholas Harvey, K-12 Policy Director for Generation Up.

PHOTO: Jessica Felicio/Unsplash

Fictitious business name(s):

Nelson Place Located at: 475 Arroyo Seco Dr. San Diego, CA 92114 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: An Individual Registrant has not yet begun to transact business under the name(s) above

This business is hereby registered by the following:

Kandice Nicole Nelson 475 Arroyo Seco Dr. San Diego, CA 92114

This statement was filed with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on May 30, 2023

This fictitious business name will expire on May 30, 2028

6/22, 6/29, 7/06

FICTITIOUS

Fictitious

business name(s):

at:

The first day of business was: 5/30/2023

This business is hereby registered by the following: Sandy Gallardo 333 Los Reyes Dr. San Diego, CA 92114

Manuel Valderrama 333 Los Reyes Dr. San Diego, CA 92114

May 30, 2023 This

fictitious business

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081 North County Division 37-2023-00025746CU-PT-NC

Petitioner or Attorney: Scott William Newacheck

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Scott William Newacheck and Regina Leng Hernandez Pamintuan filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Jayce Will Newacheck

PROPOSED NAME: Jace Will Newacheck

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: August 11, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 25

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

FICTITIOUS BUSINESS

NAME STATEMENT 2023-9013484

Fictitious business name(s): New Creation Plastering Inc. Located at: 7871 Bushwood Ct. Lemon Grove, CA 91945 County of San Diego

This business is conducted by: A Corporation

The first day of business was: 1/12/2022

This business is hereby registered by the following: New Creation Plastering Inc. 7871 Bushwood Ct. Lemon Grove, CA 91945

with the Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on June 26, 2023 This fictitious business name will expire on June 26, 2028 6/29, 7/06, 7/13, 7/20

FICTITIOUS

business name will

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

325 South Melrose Drive, Vista, CA 92081

6/29, 7/06, 7/13, 7/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA

County of San Diego

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division, Hall of Justice

37-2023-00025518CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney:

Soncerire Eugenia Hayes

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Soncerire Eugenia Hayes filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Soncerire Eugenia Hayes

PROPOSED NAME:

Soncerire Eugenia Pippins

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: August 3, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61 (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth

has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 26, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 13, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Lazaro Parreira Neto

PROPOSED NAME: Lazaro Neto

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

37-2023-00020739CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/29, 7/06, 7/13, 7/20

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice 37-2023-00024491CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Alan W. Cheung Esq. 185615

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Qian Yu Zhang filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT

NAME: Qian Yu Zhang

PROPOSED NAME:

Roxanne Qianyu Zhang

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted.

Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 31, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120). If all requirements for

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division Hall of Justice

37-2023-00024116CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Hailey Lynn James

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Hailey Lynn James filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Hailey Lynn James

PROPOSED NAME: Hailey Lynn Joren

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing. NOTICE

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions. If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Central Division Hall of Justice 37-2023-00024106CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

Taylor Mackay Sorenson

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Taylor Mackay Sorenson filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Taylor Mackay Sorenson

PROPOSED NAME:

Taylor Mackay Joren

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT

OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Civil 37-2023-00022512CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Cinthia Sanchez on behalf of minors

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Cinthia Sanchez on behalf of minors filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. PRESENT NAME: Julian Santiago Cisneros

PROPOSED NAME: Julian Santiago Sanchez

b.

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court. The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2023-00024039CU-PT-CTL Petitioner or Attorney:

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 25, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST T WO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/15,

County of San Diego

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner LaKeisha Gibson on behalf of minor filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME: Darnay Aniya Scott

PROPOSED NAME: Aniya Darnay Scott

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 25, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. 61 (To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE. The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree Changing Name and Order Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

A RESPONDENT OBJECTING TO THE NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment

served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

330 W. Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

6/15, 6/22, 6/29, 7/06

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

Hall of Justice Courthouse

37-2023-00022993CU-PT-CTL

Petitioner or Attorney: Ezequiel Barraza aka Ezequiel Barraza Ceballos

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner

Ezequiel Barraza aka Ezequiel Barraza Ceballos filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

PRESENT NAME:

Ezequiel Barraza aka Ezequiel Barraza Ceballos

PROPOSED NAME:

Ezequiel Barraza

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: July 18, 2023

Time: 8:30 A.M. Dept. C-61

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON THE DATE SPECIFIED IN THE ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE.

The court will review the documents filed as of the date specified on the Order to Show Cause for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-120).

If all requirements for a name change have been met as of the date specified, and no timely written objection has been received (required at least two court days before the date specified), the Petition for Change of Name (JC Form #NC-100) will be granted without a hearing. One copy of the Order Granting the Petition will be mailed to the petitioner.

To change a name on a legal document, including a birth certificate, social security card, driver license, passport, and other identification, a certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be required. Contact the agency(ies) who issue the legal document that needs to be changed, to determine if a certified copy is required.

A certified copy of Decree

Changing Name (JC Form #NC-130) or Decree

Changing Name and Order

Recognizing Change of Gender and for Issuance of New Birth Certificate (JC Form #NC-230) may be obtained from the Civil Business Office for a fee. Petitioners who are seeking a change of name under the Safe at Home program may contact the assigned department for the information on obtaining certified copies.

If all the requirements have not been met as of the date specified, the court will mail the petitioner a written order with further directions.

If a timely objection is filed, the court will set a hearing date and contact the parties by mail with further directions.

NAME CHANGE MUST FILE A WRITTEN OBJECTION AT LEAST TWO COURT DAYS (excluding weekends and holidays) BEFORE THE DATE SPECIFIED. Do not come to court on the specified date. The court will notify the parties by mail of a future hearing date

Any Petition for the name change of a minor that is signed by only one parent must have this Attachment served along with the Petition and Order to Show Cause, on the other nonsigning parent, and proof of service must be filed with the court.

The address of the court is:

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/08, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29

SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA County of San Diego

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 Hall of Justice Courthouse 37-2019-00049705PR-GP-CTL Petitioner or Attorney: Lisa C. Clincy on behalf of minor children

To All Interested Persons: Petitioner Lisa C. Clincy on behalf of minor children filed a petition with this court for a decree changing names as follows:

a. PRESENT NAME: Cedell Demaria Williams Jr.

PROPOSED NAME: Cedell Lamar Cook

b. PRESENT NAME: Michelle Annette Williams

PROPOSED NAME: Michelle Annette Cook

THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the petition without a hearing.

NOTICE OF HEARING

Date: August 9, 2023

Time: 8:45 A.M. Dept. 503

(To appear remotely, check in advance of the hearing for information about how to do so on the court's website. To find your court's website go to www.courts.ca.gov/find-mycourt.htm)

The address of the court is: 330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101 6/08, 6/15, 6/22, 6/29

SUMMONS (Citation Judicial)

NOTICE TO DEFENDANT (Name) AVISO AL DEMANDADO (Nombre): OLD TOWN TEQUILA FACTORY, INC., a California Corporation; WILLIAM H. MCWETHY, JR individual; BRIAN HARKINS, an individual; and DOES 1 to 10 inclusive

YOU ARE BEING SUED BY PLAINTIFF (Lo esta demandado el demandante): SANDRO ORTEGA DOMINGUEZ, an individual; CANDELARIO OLMOS, an individual

NOTICE! You have been sued. The court may decide against you without your being heard unless you respond within 30 days. Read the information below.

You have 30 CALENDAR DAYS after this summons and legal papers are served on you to file a written response at this court and have a copy served on the plaintiff. A letter or phone call will not protect you. Your written response must be in proper legal form if you want the court to hear your case. There may be a court form that you can use for your response. You can find these court

(www.courtinfo.ca.gov/ Selfhelp), your county law library, or the courthouse nearest you. If you cannot pay the filing fee, ask the court clerk for a fee waiver form. If you do not file your response on time, you may lose the case by default, and your wages, money, and property may be taken without further warning from the court.

There are other legal requirements. You may want to call an attorney right away. If you do not know an attorney, you may want to call an attorney referral service. If you cannot afford an attorney, you may be eligible for free legal services from a nonprofit legal services program. You can locate these nonprofit groups at the California Legal Services Web site (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), the California Courts Online Self-Help Center (www. courtinto.ca.gov/selfhelp), or by contacting your local court or county bar association.

NOTE: The court has a statutory lien for waived fees and costs on any settlement or arbitration award of $10,000 or more in a civil case. The court's lien must be paid before the court will dismiss the case.

¡AVISO! Lo han demandado. Si no responde dentro de 30 dias, la corte puede decidir en su contra sin escuchar su versión. Lea la información a continuación. Tiene 30 DIAS DE CALENDARIO después de que le entreguen esta citación y papeles legales para presentar una respuesta por escrito en esta corte y hacer que se entregue una copia al demandante. Una carta o una llamada telefónica no lo protegen. Su respuesta por escrito tiene que estar en formato legal correcto si desea que procesen su caso en la corte. Es posible que haya un formulario que usted pueda usar para su respuesta. Puede encontrar estos formularios de la corte y más información en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California (www.sucorte. ca.gov), en la biblioteca de leyes de su condado o en la corte que le quede más cerca. Si no puede pagar la cuota de presentación, pida al secretano de la corte que le de un formulario de exención de pago de cuotas. Si no presenta su respuesta a tiempo, puede perder el caso por incumplimiento y la corte le podra quitar su sueldo, dinero y bienes sin mas advertencia.

Hay otros requisitos legales. Es recomendable que llame a un abogado inmediatamente. Si no conoce a un abogado, puede llamar a un servicio de remisión a abogados. Si no puede pagar a un abogado, es posible que cumpla con los requisitos para obtener servicios legales gratuitos de un programa de servicios legales sin fines de lucro. Puede encontrar estos grupos sin fines de lucro en el sitio web de Calitornia Legal Services, (www. lawhelpcalifornia.org), en el Centro de Ayuda de las Cortes de California, (www. sucorte.ca.gov) o poniéndose en contacto con la corte o el colegio de abogados locales.

AVISO: Por ley, la corte tiene derecho a reclamar las cuotas y los costos exentos por imponer un gravamen sobre cualquier recuperación de $10,000 o más de valor recibida mediante un acuerdo o una concesión de arbitraje en un caso de derecho civil. Tiene que pagar el gravamen de la corte antes de que la corte pueda desechar el caso.

Case Number: 37-2022-00012575-CU-OECTL

The name and address of the court is (El nombre y direccion de la corte es): San Diego Superior CourtCounty of San Diego Central Division

330 West Broadway San Diego, CA 92101

The name, address, aand telephone number of plaintiff's attorney, or plaintiff without an attorney, is: (El nombre, la direccion y el numero de telefono del abogado del demandante, o del demandante que no tiene abogado, es): Douglas E. Geyman, Esq. 750 B Street, Suite 2870 San Diego, CA 92101

DATE (Fecha): 04/06/2022

NOTICE OF PETITION TO ADMINISTER ESTATE OF

Maria Odilia Parra

Case Number: 37-2023-00009961-PR-LACTL

To all heirs, beneficiaries, creditors, contingent creditors, and persons who may otherwise be interested in the will or estate, or both, of Maria

Acosta; Maria Parra; Maria Odilia Acosta & Maria Odilia Parra

A Petition for Probate has been filed by Elsa Aida Velarde in the Superior Court of California, County of San Diego

The Petition for Probate requests that Elsa Aida Velarde be appointed as personal representative to administer the estate of the decedent.

The petition requests authority to administer the estate under the Independent Administration of Estates Act.

(This authority will allow the personal representative to take many actions without obtaining court approval.

Before taking certain very important actions, however, the personal representative will be required to give notice to interested persons unless they have waived notice or consented to the proposed action.) The independent administration authority will be granted unless an interested person files an objection to the petition and shows good cause why the court should not grant the authority.

A hearing on the petition will be held in this court as follows: on July 19, 2023, at 1:30 PM in Dept. 502 located at the Superior Court of California County of San Diego 1100 Union Street San Diego, CA 92101 Probate Division

If you object to the granting of the petition, you should appear at the hearing and state your objections or file written objections with the court before the hearing. Your appearance may be in person or by your attorney.

If you are a creditor or a contingent creditor of the decedent, you must file your claim with the court and mail a copy to the personal representative appointed by the court within the later of either (1) four months from the date of first issuance of letters to a general personal representative, as defined in section 58(b) of the California Probate Code, or (2) 60 days from the date of mailing or personal delivery to you of a notice under section 9052 of the California Probate Code. Other California statutes and legal authority may affect your rights as a creditor. You may want to consult with an attorney knowledgeable in California law.

You may examine the file kept by the court.

If you are a person interested in the estate, you may file with the court a REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE (form DE-154) of the filing of an inventory and appraisal of estate assets or of any petition or account as provided in Probate Code section 1250.

A REQUEST FOR SPECIAL NOTICE form is available from the court clerk.

Petitioner: Elsa Aida Velarde

ANDERSON:

Continued from page 2

“The one thing that I think is similar is just the fact that Black people who have mental health crises, man, we get the death sentence,” Crump said. “When White people have mental health crises, everybody is trying to help them.”

This month the U.S. Department of Justice released a report outlining systemic problems in the Minneapolis Police Department. It said police officers used “unjustified deadly force” and other types of force, and that they “unlawfully discriminate” against Black and Native American people, violate the rights of people engaged in protected speech, and discriminate against people with behavioral health issues.

There were similar findings in the Los Angeles Police Department after the Rampart Scandal uncovered corruption.

“20 years ago, there was a finding that there were systemic problems in the Los Angeles Police Department and there was a consent decree,” Douglas said. “The problem is there is a warrior mentality that envelops law enforcement: us versus them; military equip-

FUTURE:

Continued from page 3

Because of his parents’ participation in the great migration, Elijah was born and grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, where Elijah was placed in special education classes. He overcame that profiling and graduated college, Phi Beta Kappa. He became an accomplished lawyer, rose to serve in the United States Congress, and became Chairman of the powerful Oversight Committee. IAAM tells the story of the ancestors and descendants of Scippo Rhame, and countless others with similar backgrounds and experiences.

Those stories are about more than the institution of slavery—they are uplifting experiences that epitomize the varying possibilities of who we are and what we can—and have—become. In that spirit, IAAM has established a one-of-a-kind center dedicated to African American genealogy research. The Center for Family History hosts a growing collection of photos, historical documents, and family histories that the public can comb through to find more information about their family trees.

To help bolster their records, the IAAM Center for Family History has issued an open call for obituaries, photos, family histories, and other historical documents. It is not lost on me that at the site where some researchers say half of all African Americans arrived in this country will sit a museum committed to reunifying their descendants with lost histories.

There is significant currency in the muse-

literacy:

Continued from page 13

AB 787 would require, on or before January 1, 2025, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) Tony Thurmond, in consultation with the State Board of Education, to survey teacher librarians, principals, and technology directors to monitor how they are currently integrating digital citizenship and media literacy education into their curriculum.

AB 787 would also require Thurmond to share the results of the survey with an advisory committee consisting of specified representatives.

A 2022 Pew Research Report found that the number of teens who use the internet at least once a day has increased by 5% since 2014-2015. Many of these teens are active on popular social media platforms such as Twitter, Tik Tok, Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram. Currently, 97% of teens report using the internet daily, compared with 92% in 2014-15.

Pew Research Center reports from 2018 and 2022 also found that 95% of teens have access to smartphones, and 45% are online more frequently. In addition,

ment against citizens instead of a guardian mentality to protect and serve, to help.”

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass discussed the incident with CBM in February.

“People have died at the hands of the LAPD. You had those three deaths in one week, which was really horrific from my point of view,” Bass said. “With my medical background, I looked at those tapes unedited, and I saw two people in serious crisis.”

A June 23 statement from Mayor Bass’ office to CBM stated, “The Mayor’s approved budget has money to continue funding the SMART teams. The primary challenge isn’t [a] lack of funding for these positions but a shortage of licensed clinicians who work alongside the officers to respond to people experiencing mental health crises. The Mayor's Office is working with our partners at LAPD and LA County Department of Mental Health to pursue strategies to hire additional licensed clinicians.”

The LA City Attorney declined to comment for this article, citing pending litigation.

um’s acronym, “IAAM.” In my office is a statue of a sanitation worker holding a sign with a simple message: “I am a man.” This statue tells the story of the 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers’ strike, born out of anger over the deaths of Black sanitation workers Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who were killed on the job by malfunctioning equipment. The primarily Black sanitation force demanded recognition of their union, improved safety standards, and a living wage. It took nearly 2 months and the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., but in the end, their demands were met. The museum’s acronym, “IAAM,” serves to recognize their struggle and ultimate success.

I often quote George Santayana’s admonition, “Those who do not remember past lessons are condemned to repeat them.” African American history encompasses far more than the horrors of those who were enslaved. Their countless descendants include history-making visionaries, and IAAM honors and preserves their struggles and accomplishments and dares us to look toward the future.

I must admit that there were times during my chairmanship, especially in those early days, when I was not sure we would get this project across the finish line. I am proud that after more than 20 years of hard work and dedicated commitment, we are celebrating its opening, and future generations can learn fuller and more accurate stories of America’s greatness.

the reports stated that 56% of Black teens are online, compared to 55% Latinos, and 37% of White teens.

“If these practices are important and salient to our youth, then it is critically relevant for educators to acknowledge this insight as they teach, and for researchers to write about studies in humanizing ways,” according to a January 2023 International Literacy report titled, “Normalizing Black Students/Youth and their Families’ Digital and STEAM Literacies.”

Common Sense Media’s California policy manager Kami Peer, a nonprofit focused on youth and media, told the Napa Valley Register that Berman’s and Gabriel’s legislation would change the way student’s use the media to obtain information and handle ever-changing digital tools.

“We believe these two bills, if signed into law, would bring California to the forefront of this important policy area and ensure our students are well-equipped to face the rapidly evolving digital, online landscape,” Peer said.

Eagles Nest Christian Center

Search: Pastor John E. Warren San Diego

We are a non-denominational full fellowship of

Cornelius “Neal”

John Edward Patrick

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

John Edward Hill III was born in Queens, New York on October 19, 1969, to the union of Shirley A. and John Edward Hill Jr. John had two older siblings. He was never married nor did he have children.

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Cornelius “Neal” Petties was born September 16, 1940, in San Diego, California to Leon Clinton Petties Sr. and Lillian Parker Petties. He was the fourth of six children born to this union. He was preceded in death by both his parents and five siblings: Leon Jr., Jacqueline, Martel, Lawrence and George. Neal was affectionately known as “Pop”, “Daddy-O”, “Tall, Tan & Terrific” , and “Dad” by his family and friends. He loved football and excelled while attending San Diego High School and later San Diego State University, where he played Football under the late Don Coryell. In 1964, Neal was drafted by the Baltimore Colts and played three years in the National Football League.

After his football career, he worked for the City of San Diego for 25 years in the Park and Recreation Department as Director of Mountain View Park. While working for the City, Neal implemented numerous programs to benefit the neighborhood youth. He brought live entertainment, organized trips to amusement parks for the kids, and was instrumental in getting a lot of people in the community jobs with the City. While being employed with the City, he also worked part-time security for the Palisade Skating Rink. Everyone knew “Big Neal”.

After retiring from the City, Neal couldn’t sit still. He went on to work for the San Diego Port District, and later as a Job Coach for the mentally challenged. He was known for his generosity and willingness to help anyone in need ...expecting nothing in return. He was highly respected and will be greatly missed by many.

God sent his angels to bring his child from labor to eternal rest in the early hours of Friday, June 2, 2023. Waiting to welcome him home in glory were his parents and siblings.

Neal leaves behind to celebrate his memory a son, Anthony LeMonte Petties (Tala Sione) of San Diego, California; a daughter, Sherie Renee Petties-Jackson of San Diego; sisters-in-laws Debra Petties, Georgette Petties and JohnnieMae Petties; best friends HD Murphy, Earl “Wool” Woolridge, Melvin “Tootie” Southern, Esther “NeeNee” Torbert, Robert Carter, James McDougal, and Floyd Robinson; a host of nieces, nephews and countless other family and friends.

John completed Culinary School, and his career took him all over the world as a first class chef. He wrote and produced volumes 1 and 2 of his Major Chronic Comic Book. He was working on volume 3 before his passing.

John was a vendor at several San Diego Black Comic Conventions, earth, and other events that let him display his cooking abilities that incorporated modern alternative herbs in his food recipes.

On May 2, 2023, in San Diego, California, he passed away from this life. John was preceded in death by his father; John Edward Hill Jr., who passed away in 2017 in Lynchburg, VA.

John Edward leaves behind siblings; Sandra Ann Hill, of Henderson, NV. and Wendy O. Hill-Johnson of San Diego, CA; niece Janine Johnson-Butler; nephews Sean D. Johnson & David J. Hill; nephew-in-law Lamont M. Butler; great-nephews Langston M. and Liam M. Butler; and a host of cousins in North Carolina, New York, Wisconsin, and California.

Robert Earl

Smith

ARRANGEMENTS BY PREFERRED CREMATION & BURIAL MORTUARY

Robert Earl Smith was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi on April 24, 1952 to Anna Lee Newson and Claude Smith Sr. Robert came from a large family of 24 children. Robert obtained his high school education in Mississippi. He moved to San Diego, CA in early 1970.

Robert was baptized at the 69th St. Church of Christ under Minister John Lawson Sr. in 1995, and was a member until his passing June 11, 2023.

Robert started working construction as a mason in 1970. He worked for Foundation Builder as a blueprint reader and was known as the “BEST” layout, form builder, and cement finisher in the business. He also trained his workers to be like him. Robert drove backhoes, bobcat and other construction equipment and heavy-duty vehicles. Robert worked for many other construction companies and was a contractor and foreman for Nielson Construction Company, Archie Tinsley, and Rufus Whitaker. Robert was in construction for over forty-seven years until his health began to fail. Robert was a true mastermind in his work.

Robert was good to all who knew him. A provider to his wife Barbara and a loving, protective family man. He told funny jokes that could make you cry laughing. His favorite color was blue; which to him symbolized loyalty, inspiration, and confidence and he showed it throughout his life.

Robert Earl Smith married Eyvette Jackson and to this union they had one son, Robert (Poky) Smith Jr., who lived 27 years until his untimely passing, preceding Robert in death.

Robert leaves behind the best and loving and kind wife in which he thought a man could ever have. His children; daughter Vaneisha Alexander, son in-law

Ernest, son Kevin Wyatt, and his wife Tracy Landry, daughter Ivore Wyatt and, four grandchildren, seven great grandchildren; Willie Ray Smith, Cathy Smith, Johnny Ray Smith, Jessie Smith Sr., Lola Smith, Claude Smith Jr., Ernestine Smith, Ezra Ruth Smith, Bobby “Bob” Smith, Oneda Wesley Albert, Janice Johnson, Kim Stubb, Johnny Stubb, Katherine Terrell, her husband Bobby, Laverne Powell, and husband Willie, Patricia Pittman, Robin Smith and wife Dorothy, Edward Earl Smith, Billy Smith and his wife Pam, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, best friend Robert Washington, and favorite nephews Vince Washington, Jessie Smith Jr. who all are mourning Robert’s passing to life into the bosom of Abraham.

Born on May 31, 1947 to Bernice Thomas and Patrick Fox, Patrick grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17, on July 2, 1964. There he met his wife Iris, who was also in the Marine Corps. They both were stationed at Twentynine Palms in 1968. Patrick served in the Marine Corps honorably for 25 years, retiring in 1989 as a Sergeant Major.

Patrick also worked for the San Diego Sheriff’s Department as a Reserves-Man while in the Marine Corps. He graduated from the academy in 1985, served 19 years, and retired as a Sergeant in 2004. On April 20, 1994, he received the Medal of Valor, the state’s highest valor award for a public safety officer. Patrick also worked many years for the Grossmont Union School District. He counseled at Helix High School and later at Chaparral for at-risk kids. He took pride in his loyalty to family, friends, community, and his country.

Patrick enjoyed fishing, bowling, trap shooting, camping, motorcycle riding, and watching old westerns. He loved the Raiders, attending games both at home and away. He enjoyed cooking, sharing recipes, and feeding people. He often shared stories with his family and friends about his life’s events.

Patrick passed from this earth on June 10, 2023. He was loved by his family and friends and will be truly missed. We will remember him most for his warm advice, tough love, storytelling, and funny sayings.

Patrick’s favorite scripture was Isaiah 38:16-17:

“You restored me to health and let me live. Surely it was for the benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men will stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

The symbolism of the moment and the task ahead of him is not lost on Earl Gary.

“I think it’s very unique, the odds of me getting in a position like this,” Gary said. “I’m really grateful to be given this opportunity to perform with all of the history that comes with it.”

Gary’s YME Landscape, a Black-owned Richmond company, has been chosen to revitalize the circle on Monument and North Allen avenues where the Robert E. Lee statue once stood. His company’s involvement in the project marks another symbol in the lessening of the city’s Confederate presence with a Black crew working to reimagine the space once inhabited by the general.

The controversial bronze statue was taken down in 2021, after activists called for its removal in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. The empty pedestal was leveled in February 2022. The statue was transferred to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia.

YME and the Department of Public Works recently began site work at the circle. The plan calls for the grounds of the former monument to be spruced up with 6,000 plants and 28 trees.

“I’ve been doing landscaping for a long time, but I don’t think I had too many jobs where I had to plant 6,000 plants,” Gary said.

The city approved the temporary landscaping plan in S eptember to revitalize the empty space until a long-term solution is reached.

Prior to starting YME in 2007, Gary, 47, had an engineering background, graduating with an electrical engineering technology degree from Old Dominion and working on industrial projects and energy audits for such places as UPS, Courtyard by Marriott and the Minnesota Air National Guard.

But Gary wanted to start his own firm due to the uphill climb of finding job opportunities and receiving promotions.

A lot of times when I was working in engineering, I was pretty much the only minority working there,” he said. “I learned really quickly, ‘Am I ever going to get that junior executive position or senior executive position?’ I’m not saying I couldn’t, but the landscape didn’t look the same to me as someone that’s not in the minority.”

Gary saw similar things with his grandfather and father while growing up in Richmond, as they worked at Allied Signal and Honeywell, former names of what is now AdvanSix. They were often the only minorities on their teams.

After Gary met a Black electrical engineer who worked with his dad, he gained interest in doing that line of work. Gary also developed a vision of creating space for more minority engineers.

“I got to see that lineage, and I’m like, ‘Well, I’m gonna take what I saw and maybe try to

transfer it a little bit differently in this generation,’” he s aid. “Instead of me being that only minority in that function, maybe I can create a minority function.”

Gary established YME partly due to his interest in landscaping, but also as a way to raise money to further his engineering career.

“My granddad, he always worked on lawnmowers, stuff like that, so I knew how to cut grass,” Gary said. “I just figured if I can get enough landscaping work, I probably can build my own engineering firm.”

Gary eventually got his own firm, founding Fulcrum Engineering Solutions more than six years ago. The company’s civil engineers prepare sites for construction and development.

Gary said it’s important to have more Black and minority-owned businesses, particularly in cities like Richmond that are majority-minority.

“I think it’s really important,” he said. “I think a lot of the Black-owned businesses we do have, it takes awhile for them to be more of a corporation. I don’t want to say they’re all sole proprietors, but they often end up being the main person working the entire time until they get

to retirement; if somebody doesn’t take it over, then it’s one-dimensional.”

As YME begins the early stages of working on the landscaping plan, Gary hopes the work will be completed by mid-to-late July.

Second District City Council member Katherine Jordan said the fencing and barriers surrounding the former Lee Circle will not be removed until the project is completed to ensure staff safety.

Brothers Alfred Brown Jr. and Alex Brown are working at YME for the summer while attending Virginia Commonwealth University and Old Dominion University, respectively. Both say the project is a good opportunity to create a nice visual space for Richmonders.

“It’s nice to be able to turn it into something everyone can enjoy,” Alfred Brown Jr. said. “It won’t be just patch and dirt when we’re done. We’re just happy to help out with changing the city environment.”

1941

STOKELY CARMICHAEL BORN

Civil rights leader, antiwar activist, and Pan-African revolutionary, Stokely Carmichael was born June 29, 1941. He is best known for popularizing the slogan “Black Power,” catalyzing the movement toward more militant and separatist assertions of Black identity, nationalism, and empowerment.

During a 1966 march in Mississippi, Carmichael first proclaimed “Black Power.” The slogan, and Carmichael’s subsequent efforts to both define it and put it into practice, turned him into a media celebrity and a lightning rod for white criticism and government repression. “Black Power” fragmented the liberal civil rights coalition of the 1950s and early 1960s.

1960

CECIL F. POOLE MADE FIRST ATTORNEY GENERAL

Cecil Francis Poole, the first African American U.S. Attorney in the continental United States and the first African American federal judge in Northern California was born in Birmingham, Alabama on July 14, 1914, to William and Eva Poole.

In 1949, he accepted a job as an assistant district attorney in the office of San Francisco District Attorney Edmund “Pat” Brown. Nine years later, Brown appointed Poole as his extradition and clemency secretary. On June 29, 1960, President John F. Kennedy appointed Poole U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California, making him the first African American U.S. Attorney in the continental United States.

In 1979, President Jimmy Carter appointed Poole to the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, thereby securing Poole’s position as the first African American to serve on that court. Poole served in this position for over 25 years, receiving Senior Judge status in 1996. Judge Cecil Poole passed away on November 12, 1997, from complications arising from pneumonia.

Carmelia

Bell & Friends

cally You rs In Song”