WSSN Stories

California Black Women Leaders Organize to Open Paths for Others

By Quinci LeGardye | California Black Media 

After launching a campaign last year to push for another Black woman to replace Vice President Kamala Harris in the United States Senate, a coalition of California Black women leaders say they are not defeated. They are organizing. 

Many of the women – federal or state legislators, other elected officials and political leaders –have made history in California and across the nation. Now, they have come together to organize, launching an effort to ensure that more Black women are voted into elected office in California.  

On February 15, the California Black Women’s Collective (CBWC) hosted “Conversation with Congresswomen Karen Bass, Barbara Lee and Maxine Waters.” Melanie Campbell, President and CEO of the National Coalition of Black Civic Participation and convener of the Black Women’s Roundtable, moderated the virtual event.

“After we were disappointed that we were not able to keep the seat for the United States Congress, we wanted to make sure that we did not lose our momentum, so we brought together this collective of Black women across California to make sure that we stay visible and active and engaged,” said LaNiece Jones, Executive Director of Peralta Colleges Foundation and Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA).

According to the event’s organizers, the goal of CBWC is to amplify the priorities of Black women and organize with the goal of securing adequate representation for Black women in government. They also work in solidarity with the #WinWithBlackWomen initiative, which advocates for Black women lawmakers nationally.

The congresswomen spoke about how they ended up serving in the state legislature and later Congress, with all of them mentioning that they were ushered in by other Black legislators who called them to serve. Congresswoman Karen Bass (D-CA-37) said she entered the race for the California Assembly because other Black legislators were going to Congress and there weren’t going to be any African American women serving in the state legislature had she not run and won. 

“That was very motivating to me because all of the issues that we had worked on in the community. When people leave, everything that you’ve worked on can be reversed. So, that’s what led me to run for office,” said Bass.

When asked who had been critical to their success in their career, the congresswomen spoke about Black women community leaders and local government leaders who have worked with and inspired them, including Mary Henry, Opal Jones and Lillian Mobley in South Los Angeles, Maudelle Shirek in Berkeley, Nolice Edwards and Kellie Todd Griffin in Sacramento, and Edith Austin in Oakland.

“What I liked most about them was the courage that they had. If you could’ve seen them operate, you would’ve been instilled with the kind of strength that they helped to generate for me. I’ve been out of place, outspoken, confrontational, all of that, because of all these women, and I love it, and I’m so pleased I knew them and embraced me,” said Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA-43).

Speaking about their legacy, the congresswomen all say they hope they will be recognized for the fights they have led on behalf of their communities, and for delivering for their constituents. Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-13) emphasized the importance of changing systematically oppressive systems.

“Like Shirley Chisholm said, when you get inside it’s not about playing by the rules, it’s about changing those rules because they weren’t made for you and me. So, I hope that my legacy will be, I didn’t go along to get along and I tried to change the systems and structures that are creating such oppression for so many marginalized people,” said Lee.

State and local Black women legislators also spoke about the legacies they want to leave, and what they want to accomplish for both their constituents and the women who will follow in their footsteps in various roles. They also touched on the importance of creating a better future of Black Californians.

“I wanted to demonstrate to people from San Diego and for African Americans across the state, that we can actually fight this battle and win,” said California Secretary of State Shirley Weber. “That was something that was so important because so many of our communities settle for little or nothing in terms of representation. So, my goal was to basically demonstrate that we can get police reform, that we can get a reparations bill passed, that we can do things in California that others think that we couldn’t do.”

State Board of Equalization Member Malia Cohen said, “This country has done dubious things in terms of passing policies that have shaken the bedrock of our financial stability. When I think about my legacy at least, as I serve on the Board of Equalization, I really want to begin to elevate the conversation. There are very few women – let alone Black women that are in this space that are paying attention to taxes and fees and they’re paying attention to budget. That is the legacy that I hope to leave behind.”

Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles), whose district includes Crenshaw, Ladera Heights, Baldwin Hills and Culver City, says Black politicians have to press their colleagues holding elected office to push for the changes they would like to see. 

“We are at the bottom of just about every statistic when it comes to talking about Black futures, and what our Black babies are going to grow into. At the end of the day, we have got to be riding every single fellow colleague and the administration on budget decisions that are coupled with policy decisions,” said Kamlager-Dove. 

Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors member Holly Mitchell emphasized that courage is required to succeed. 

“I want people to be clear about my ‘why,’ and understand that I was not afraid because fear is the only thing that can stop us as Black women from being overwhelmingly successful. Don’t be afraid. If others are afraid of you that is their problem, not yours,” Mitchell said. 

Assemblymember Autumn Burke spoke about her mother, Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, who also served in the state legislature. Burke said she now feels it’s her responsibility to bring Black women into the legislature as her mother did. 

“Creating a bench is incredibly important to me now. It was one of my mom’s legacies. So many of her staff became speakers and supervisors and city council members. It’s something she’s really proud of. And as I look now, as I’m getting a little bit older, I’ve realized how important that really is. When I look around that room, knowing that I’m going to be the only one there, and what a disservice that is to our communities,” said Burke.

San Francisco Mayor London Breed spoke about her motivation for getting into politics, after growing up in poverty. Now, she wonders why she was one of the only people in her neighborhood to go to college and get out of poverty.

“All the people I grew up with, I now see them in the Tenderloin, sometimes strung out. I’ve gone to more funerals and I can count. The only reason why I decided to do work as a public servant is because I wanted to change things from a perspective of someone who’s was forced to live in it for most of my life. So, what I want my legacy to be is I want to look back, and I want to feel and see a difference in people’s lives,” said Breed.

Former UPS Executive Boosts Pledge To Alma Mater By $15 Million

BALTIMORE — To help students avoid crippling college debt, former United Parcel Service executive and Morgan State University alumnus Calvin Tyler is increasing his $5 million commitment to his alma mater by $15 million to fund academic scholarships.

The expanded Calvin and Tina Tyler Endowment Scholarship Fund, created in 2002 to offer scholarships for Baltimore students, will now be used to attract students from around the country to a university eager to distinguish itself as a premier research institution, the university recently announced.

“A lot of young people in Baltimore and throughout the country are in need of help right now,” said Tyler. “Putting them further in debt through the reliance on government loans is just not the answer. Getting a college degree and graduating without debt is something that we think is very important.”

Tyler Hall, the recently constructed student services building on Morgan’s campus, stands as a legacy of Calvin and Tina Tyler’s “legacy of philanthropic giving.” (Courtesy of Morgan State University)

Student demographics suggest that nearly every Morgan student will, in the form of partial or full tuition scholarships, be impacted by the increased funds. Of the approximately 8,000 students currently attending the university, 90 percent receive some type of financial assistance.

“Forty-five percent qualify for Pell Grants, federal assistance to support students, at various level based on family support, and about 30 percent of that 45 percent are eligible for maximum benefits,” said Morgan State President David Wilson. “Thousands of students will be impacted for decades and decades to come.”

Wilson said he “literally dropped the phone” when the Tylers informed him that they wanted to raise their commitment to the university.

“When I was having the conversation with Calvin, and he said that he and Tina wanted to make a larger investment, I went quiet, because he doesn’t think in increments of a million dollars,” said Wilson. “We talked about the impact of COVID-19 in the community they come from and how it’s stressful under normal circumstances, and now students have to do three times more. He told me they wanted to do everything they can to ease the loan burden, so students could taste the magic of a Morgan State University education.”

“My wife and I have become keenly aware of the effect that the pandemic has had on a number of young people trying to get an education,” said Tyler. “We have the resources to help a lot of young people … through our endowed scholarship plan. It’s not so much that we’re supporting Morgan, it’s more that we are supporting Baltimore … Baltimore is our hometown, it’s where we’re from.”

Forced to drop out of Morgan in 1963 due to a lack of money to complete his own degree in business administration, Tyler became one of the first 10 black drivers for UPS in 1964. He closed out his career with the package delivery company as senior vice president of operations, retiring in 1998 and taking a seat on its board of directors. Tyler’s company stock options and board compensations make up the bulk of his benefactor’s wealth, according to Wilson.

“Calvin was a hard worker who has made his money work for him,” Wilson said. “He didn’t come up through diversity programs or human resources, though no slight on those organizations. At one point, he was literally the chief operating officer for a major corporation.”

Calvin Tyler began his career as one of 10 black UPS drivers before retiring as senior vice president for operation at UPS in 1988. Now a UPS director, his endowment fund has help more than 200 Morgan State University students through 46 full tuition and 176 partial scholarships. (Courtesy of Morgan State University)

Morgan’s emergence as a top research university

Morgan State University has a long history as one of four historically black colleges and universities in Maryland. Founded as Centenary Biblical Institute in 1867 to train young men in the ministry, it was renamed Morgan College in 1890 in honor of Rev. Lyttleton Morgan, its first trustee board chairman.

The school remained a private institution until 1939, when it was purchased by the state to provide more opportunities for black residents. In 1975, the school gained university status and expanded its offerings to include several doctoral programs.

Today, Morgan has 12 colleges, schools and institutes, with curricula that includes liberal arts, engineering, architecture and planning, social work, global journalism and communications. In 2007, by virtue of its growth among doctoral-granting institutions, Morgan was classified as “doctoral research institution” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Ten years later, the university was designated by the Maryland General Assembly as the state’s “preeminent public urban research university.”

Together with Bowie State University, Coppin State University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Morgan State University is an engine that drives both the state and national economies, according a United Negro College Fund report, “HBCUs Make America Strong: The Positive Economic Impact of Maryland’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities,” released in 2017. Maryland HBCUs, said the report, generate $1 billion in total economic impact and account for more than 9,300 jobs and $9.5 billion in lifetime earnings among its graduates.

With the Tyler endowment, the largest private donation from an alumnus in university history, and a $40 million gift in 2020 from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, Morgan State is now reaping the benefits of a reputation that was decades in the making.

“These investments show what we’ve known all along,” Wilson said. “Morgan is a serious institution that is turning out the best talent in the country in a period of immense innovation. Philanthropists are buying into the notion that, if they want a significant return on their investment, Morgan is the first option to consider.”

“MacKenzie Scott was vetting us from afar, the Tylers were vetting us from up close because Dr. Wilson has been able to establish a great relationship with them,” said Donna Howard, Morgan State’s vice president for institutional advancement. “But both gifts show that we passed muster as they considered their giving. These two gifts show them to be deeply embedded in altruism and wanting their wealth to have a positive and transformational impact on our students, their families and our communities.”

(Edited by Carlin Becker and Matthew B. Hall)



The post Former UPS Executive Boosts Pledge To Alma Mater By $15 Million appeared first on Zenger News.

Black History Month Milestone: Remembering George Floyd and Others Killed by Police

LOS ANGELES, CA— Campaign Justice announced today that Black History Month is not only a time of recognizing the accomplishments of African Americans but is also a time to brighten the spotlight on systemic racism within law enforcement. “Say Their Names: 101 Unarmed Black Women, Men and Children Killed by Law Enforcement” (ISBN: 979-8570456860) is a newly released reference book which documents the stories of a few who have lost their lives during a brush with police.

“Why, in this nation, do too many black Americans wake up knowing that they could lose their life in the course of just living their life? Why does justice does not roll like a river or righteousness like a mighty stream?” President Joe Biden has said.

George Floyd’s murder was as shocking as it was common. As were the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tamir Rice and James Earl Chaney.

This compilation of lost lives is more of an encyclopedia and serves as a permanent record for the 101 deaths of unarmed people of color attributed to law enforcement. (Note, this is not a complete record and covers individuals who died from 1920-2020.)

We document who they were as people, the details surrounding their deaths, as well as if there were any arrests or convictions of officers involved. The book is dedicated to their families, as well as hero whistle-blower officers who stood up against systemic racism. We have also included links to over 200 social justice organizations.

This 556-page book is available NOW on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play. Links can be found at https://www.campaignjustice.org/.

Campaign Justice is a newly formed organization by an established author
and non-profit founder, whose mission is to promote social advocacy and
justice projects for marginalized communities.

Campaign Justice is also working on a children’s book which recognizes and
addresses their fear of law enforcement.

Learn more at:
https://www.campaignjustice.org/

https://www.facebook.com/CampaignJustic1

https://twitter.com/CampaignJustic1


Oldest Juvenile Lifer, 82-Year-Old Man, Released From Prison After Nearly Seven Decades

By Charlene Rhinehart, via Black Enterprise

Joe Ligon was finally released from prison after serving 68 years. Ligon, now 82, is the country’s oldest juvenile lifer in the United States.

“We waste people’s lives by over-incarcerating, and we waste money by over-incarcerating. His case graphically demonstrates the absurdity of wasting each,” Bradley Bridge, a lawyer with the Defender Association of Philadelphia, told The Philadephia Inquirer. “Hopefully his release, and the release of the juvenile lifers in general, will cause a reevaluation of the way we incarcerate people.”

Bradley has represented Ligon since 2006. On Thursday morning, the lawyer picked Ligon up from the State Correctional Institution Phoenix in Montgomery County to take him to his new home.

From Philadelphia School to Prison

Ligon was just a teenager in the 1950s. The world was in a period of civil unrest, battling the impacts of discrimination and segregation. There was also an influx of African Americans who moved from the South to the North. Ligon, a young boy raised on a farm in Alabama, found himself in the Philadelphia school system in the early 1950s at the age of 13.

This was before the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954, which officially declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional. Many of the Black schools in Philadelphia and around the country experienced the impacts of educational inequity.  Ligon, a young boy without a solid education, was left behind in the system. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Ligon “couldn’t keep up” and was still illiterate at the age of 15.

With the growing levels of poverty, unemployment, abandoned buildings, and racial division, Ligon found himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was involved in a series of robberies and assaults that left two people dead. The 15-year-old was with a group of drunk teens when it all happened. Although he admits his participation, Ligon denies accusations of killing anyone.

Unfortunately, this moment led to an arrest that would leave him behind bars for the rest of his life. Arrested in 1953 at the age of 15, he is now opening his eyes to a new world.

A Different World

I’m looking at all the tall buildings,” Ligon said. “This is all new to me. This never existed.”

Ligon spent most of his days in prison honing his janitorial skills, learning to read and write, and training as a boxer. He never applied for parole although many tried to convince him to do so.

A Supreme Court Decision eventually declared automatic lifetime terms for kids cruel and unusual. The court offered lifetime parole terms. But Ligon refused the offer.

“I like to be free,” he said. “With parole, you got to see the parole people every so often. You can’t leave the city without permission from parole. That’s part of freedom for me.”

But now, Ligon will have a chance to experience life beyond the bars. He left the prison with 12 boxes in his hand ready to explore the new world.

28-year-old Jamaican American Entrepreneur Makes History as one of Amazon’s Youngest Delivery Service Partners

Cori Gordon, 28, never imagined she’d become one of Amazon’s youngest Delivery Service Partners when she migrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in 2013.   Bright-eyed and eager post completing her studies at Northern Caribbean University, Cori began her professional career working in the retail and automotive industries before realizing she had a penchant for entrepreneurship.

“I experienced burn out working 80 plus hours for someone else,” Cori says.  “After a bit of soul searching, I realized it was important for me to direct all those hours of energy into something I owned.”

Cori searched online for business opportunities that presented a built-in customer base and a clear track for success.  “I knew right away the Amazon Delivery Service Partner program could be a great fit for me,” Cori says.  “Everyone knows and loves the company and though I hadn’t led my own company before, the training and development resources they offered inspired me to apply.”

In 2018, Amazon launched the Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program to share its experience in operations and logistics with aspiring entrepreneurs. The program empowers entrepreneurs to build their own last mile delivery companies from the ground up with Amazon’s support, infrastructure, technology, and a suite of exclusive services.  In the two years since its inception, these thriving entrepreneurs have experienced remarkable growth, with more than 1,300 DSPs operating across the U.S., Canada, UK, Spain, and Germany and nearly 85,000 jobs created. 

Cori’s DSP, Cortoyou operates out of Amazon’s newly launched delivery station in Staten Island and delivers to customers in her home borough of Brooklyn.  “The most fulfilling thing about being a DSP owner is being a job provider,” Gordon says.  “It’s such an honor for me and I get so excited when an employee gets a new car, or a new phone, because I know their employment with my company is helping them reach their goals.” 

The breadth of diversity in the program has been inspiring.  Owners include military veterans, former sellers on Amazon.com, educators, city council members, and many others who come from a variety of backgrounds. They are great coaches and mentors who have built customer obsessed teams that have delivered more than 1.8 billion packages worldwide, using more than 40,000 Prime branded last mile vehicles—from electric vehicles to step vans to delivery vans—generating more than $4.5 billion in revenue for their small businesses.

In August, Amazon announced a new diversity grant to help reduce the barriers to entry for Black, Latinx, and Native American entrepreneurs interested in starting a DSP.  With the launch of this grant program, Amazon is investing in building a future for diverse business owners to serve their communities. The $1 million commitment funds startup costs, offering $10,000 for each qualified candidate to build their own DSP businesses in the U.S.  Those interested in applying can visit logistics.amazon.com.

As the eldest child of nine, Cori knew she had a knack for leading, but she never guessed she’d be in a position to employ more than 50 drivers and make history as an Amazon business partner.  “I hope my story inspires young people of color to look into the program and evaluate if they’re ready to align with a company driven by customer obsession and delivering results,” Cori says.  “The journey has been amazing thus far.”   

Saturday, February 20: PAFF Presents: 41st & Central: The Untold Story of The L.A. Black Panthers

The? Pan African Film & Arts Festival (PAFF)? is excited to announce its added a special screening of Gregory Everett’s award-winning documentary 41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers to this year’s schedule.

PAFF will take place virtually February 28 to March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plans. Early bird discount pricing has concluded as of February 13.

As a tribute to the late filmmaker, who tragically lost his battle with COVID-19 on January 24 of this year, PAFF will host a global screening fundraiser supporting his family on February 20 at 5 p.m. PT.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers was the first part in a documentary series that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, as well as the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

This special screening is sponsored in part by The Cochran Firm California.

41st and Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, winner of the 2010 Pan African Film Festival’s Audience Favorite Documentary, features exclusive interviews from Black Panther party leaders Geronimo Ji Jagga, Elaine Brown, and Kathleen Cleaver, retired Los Angeles City Councilmember and former L.A.P.D. Police Chief Bernard Parks. The film was the first part of a documentary series by filmmaker Gregory Everett that follows the Southern California Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense from its glorious Black Power beginnings through to its tragic demise. The film explores the Black Panther ethos, its conflict with the L.A.P.D. and the U.S. Organization, and the events that shaped the complicated and often contradictory legacy of the L.A. chapter.

Using exclusive interviews with former Black Panther Party members along with archival footage detailing the history of racism in Los Angeles, including the Watt’s Uprising, 41st & Central: The Untold Story of the L.A. Black Panthers, has been called the most in-depth study ever of the murders of L.A. Chapter founder Alprentice “Bunchy” Carter and John Huggins at U.C.L.A. The documentary includes first-hand accounts of the Party’s formation as told by the original surviving members and eyewitness accounts of the murders at U.C.L.A. Also featured in the film are former Black Panther members Ericka Huggins, Roland & Ronald Freeman, Wayne Pharr, Jeffrey Everett, Long John Washington, US Organization member Wesley Kabaila, U.C.L.A. Professor Scot Brown, and Bernie Morris, oldest brother of Bunchy Carter.

Visit www.paff.org for more information and remember PAFF will take place virtually February 28 – March 14. Tickets and passes are available at www.paff.org/plansEarly bird discount pricing concludes February 13.

Celebrity Chef Gives Back to the Community That Poured into Him

Ameer Natson, celebrity chef, entrepreneur, and founder of the Become Creative Agency is set to launch a co-working space and culinary kitchen for Black creatives and aspiring chefs in New Jersey, a first- of-its kind in the Garden State. As a son of Newark, NJ, affectionately known as “Brick City”, Ameer has used every brick of life to build a brand committed to making impact and delivering results for his community.

Ameer has executed culinary experiences for a Who’s Who in the sports, film and entertainment industry, feeding the likes of Beyoncé, JAY-Z, Queen Latifah, Oprah, Pharrell, Lebron James, Chris Tucker and Blair Underwood to name a few! After quickly being identified as one of the hottest up-and-coming chefs, Ameer landed the opportunity to develop a show with Backroads Entertainment for The Food Network called HELP YOURSELF! He is America’s down-to-earth chef, and has been featured on BBC, ARISE 360 TV, NBC and BET.

More importantly, Ameer has used his experiences traveling the world to focus on what is needed most in communities that resemble where he has come from. Ameer founded Become Creative Agency, a full-service creative and marketing agency that hires local talent from inner city communities.

Ameer Natson believes that his story is proof that success is NOT about resources or circumstances. He says, “I graduated from the school of hard knocks with a degree in perseverance. It’s about being resourceful and creative. It’s about the conviction to charge ahead in spite of the challenges and critics. My commitment is to communities that look like mine and to the young people who may have been told they were never enough. I want my Ameer Natson communities, my Black communities to know we are rich with innovation and talent and my young people to know that the sky is the limit.”

Last summer during the COVID19 pandemic, Ameer partnered with the World Central Kitchen, Chefs For America and Chef José Andrés to donate and distribute more than 67,000 meals throughout the city of Newark, NJ. This past Thanksgiving, Ameer and team got to work again and prepared and delivered more than 5,000 meals as part of his annual 5000 Thankful Souls Community Thanksgiving program, an initiative he has led for several years.

This Spring, Ameer will open “Become” a creative co-working space for Black and Brown creatives. This space will include a media room, a recording space, and a kitchen where the genius of culinary imagination can expound.

“My dream is to ensure that my community, our communities are reliant and self-sufficient. I can’t wait to open the doors and help people turn their dreams and aspirations into reality.” Ameer says.

County Vaccination Effort Keeps Focus on Seniors

Seniors 65 and over will soon have additional opportunities to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the County continues to make seniors its highest vaccination priority.

In addition to yesterday’s successful Auto Club Speedway mass-vaccination event, which resulted in 3,235 people – mostly seniors – getting vaccinated, the County this week will open several weeks of vaccination appointments for seniors and announce plans to open more community vaccination centers. The County also plans to launch a mobile vaccination program to serve seniors close to home. The County will also address the issues that led to traffic headaches at yesterday’s speedway event in time for the next mass-vaccination event.

“Seniors are most at-risk from COVID-19. That’s why the County has no higher priority than making sure we quickly reach and serve everyone in our county 65 and over,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman.

While prioritizing seniors the County continues to make progress through the State Vaccination Roadmap. The County learned this week that all police officers and firefighters working in the county who want to be vaccinated have been provided with vaccination opportunities. The County has also implemented a strategy that allows vaccinations for teachers currently conducting in-person instruction or who plan to return to the classroom during the current school year, without disrupting service to seniors.

For several weeks the County has worked closely with County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, public school districts, and private schools throughout the county to develop strategies for vaccinating teachers. Schools and districts will work with their local vaccine providers to serve their eligible teachers rather than create competition between seniors and teachers for appointments online.

“The County’s wise management of vaccines and productive partnerships with vaccine providers such as hospitals and pharmacies are helping us to begin creating a safe environment for teachers and students, which is essential in our efforts to control the virus and return our communities to normal life,” said Hagman. “Best of all, we are doing this in a way that does not interfere with the availability of appointments to seniors.”

Black And Jewish Entertainment Leaders Unite To Fight Bigotry

Shared suffering has birthed a powerful partnership.

Drawing on their shared experiences of discrimination and marginalization, Black and Jewish leaders have formed an alliance to combat racism and anti-Semitism.

They are using the power of celebrity as a microphone to call for change, as anti-Semitic attacks have skyrocketed over the past few years and the Black Lives Matter movement has renewed calls for racial justice.

More than 170 men and women from the entertainment industry, ranging from film stars to music executives to athletes, signed a February unity statement released by the newly formed Black-Jewish Entertainment Alliance (BJEA) in full page ads in Variety and Billboard to coincide with the Black History Month.

“As members of the entertainment community, we stand against all forms of hate, and pledge to work to bring our two communities together in solidarity, to support one another in our struggles, and to better understand each other’s plight and narratives,” the statement reads.

“In the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr., Rabbi Abraham Heschel, and the many Blacks and Jews who stood together in the fight for civil rights, we come together to support each other in the struggle against hatred and bigotry.”

The wide-ranging list of signatories includes actors Jason Alexander, Mayim Bialik, Tiffany Haddish and Billy Porter, music executives Aaron Bay-Schuck and Ethiopia Habtemariam, former studio head Sherry Lansing and KISS rocker Gene Simmons.

“The rifts between people are as high as they have been in a long time,” Andrew Gould, former president of A&R, Downtown Music Publishing, told Zenger News. “You’re seeing systemic racism toward the Black community at its peak right now, and you’re seeing a level of anti-Semitism at its peak right now. We have had such a shared history. It’s just such an obvious step for the two communities to come together.”

Several of the signatories told Zenger News their support of the BJEA is a natural extension of work they are already doing on behalf of human rights and social justice — publicly or privately.

“I haven’t been one to put my name forward. I’m a little averse to being too far in front of any cause because I saw it as detracting from the cause,” said Brian Dobbins, co-president of the Hollywood management firm Artists First. “But then I realized I needed to do more and probably should be putting my name forward to be part of a larger, louder group.”

Brian Dobbins, the co-president of the Hollywood management firm Artists First, was one of the signatories on a February ad placed by the new alliance. (Courtesy of Brian Dobbins)

Singer-songwriter Autumn Rowe, the daughter of a Black father and a Jewish mother, said her interest in combating racism intensified in 2019 when she felt the division in America intensified. That year, she also collaborated with fellow music activist and “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” bandleader Jon Batiste on the song, “We Are,” which became an anthem of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

In addition to being a signatory with the alliance, Rowe will be one of the panelists at the first BJEA event: a Feb. 17 discussion on growing up both Black and Jewish and on what entertainers can do to bring the two communities together.

Asked what she believes non-celebrities can do to further the mission of the alliance, Rowe suggested people read about Black and Jewish history.

“I want people to be open-minded to other people’s pain and struggles,” she said. “Let’s just support everybody and realize what we all have gone through. Sometimes I feel like people don’t really take that time, and it hurts everyone. So I just want everyone to take a moment to do some serious research and just for a second imagine what the other person is going through, what they’re feeling, and just hold that space.”

The formation of the alliance comes as anti-Semitic incidents and attacks have been on the rise in the United States in recent years, reaching an all-time high in 2019, according to the Anti-Defamation League.

Jews account for less than 2 percent of the American population, yet the new FBI Hate Crimes Statistics report found more than 60 percent of religious-based hate crimes in 2019 targeted Jews, an increase of 14 percent over 2018. The FBI also reported in 2019 that 57.6 percent of the victims were targeted because of the offenders’ bias against race/ethnicity/ancestry.

The new alliance also follows a tense summer that featured nationwide demonstrations against systemic racism and police brutality, largely sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man who died while being arrested in Minneapolis.

(Edited by Carlin Becker and Fern Siegel)



The post Black And Jewish Entertainment Leaders Unite To Fight Bigotry appeared first on Zenger News.

Re-introduction of ‘What It Do with Lue’ knowing me all over again!

By Lue Dowdy

Weeeest up everyone! Its ya’ girl, Lue Dowdy back on the scene keeping you in the loop on What It Do! It’s been a minute I had to work on some things, ya know like getting my life together. But I’m back refreshed and happy to be at it again. Basically, this is my reintroduction article of myself and what my column, ‘What It Do with Lue’ is all about. 

The Entertainment in the IE is like a good pot of GUMBO, filled, seasoned and mixed with so much flavor, just waiting to be consumed. A thriving entertainment hub saturated with talented artists from singers, to dancers, rap artists, musicians, producers, writers, poets, actors, comedians, and more. I absolutely love and support the performing arts especially in my own backyard.

My production company, LUE Productions (Launching Unique Entertainment) is all about highlighting Indie Artists and Community Entertainment. Our goal is to provide platforms for the talented while bringing forth entertaining shows/events for the entire community to enjoy. I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to expand my reach through the Westside Story Newspaper, which happens to be one of the longest African American running Publications in San Bernardino County. One of the great things about the paper, is that it’s circulated throughout Southern California. 

Due to the Pandemic the industry has been on pause. If you’re not a mainstream artists or performer, I’m sure the struggles been real. A huge part of this game is staying relevant. Let me help you by highlighting your talent or next upcoming event. I can be reach on messenger on Facebook under LUE Productions or reached by email at lue.info@yahoo.com. Stop by our website www.lueproductions.org