By Tanu Henry | California Black Media  

This past weekend, Martin Jenkins, California’s first and only African American Supreme Court Justice, swore in former California State Sen. Holly Mitchell to the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors.  

For the first time in history, the five-member leadership team that Mitchell is joining, which represents nine cities in California’s most populous county, is composed of all women. Mitchell will serve as chair Pro Tem of the current board, which Los Angeles County political insiders have now dubbed the “fab five.”  

Representing the county’s Second District, Mitchell is the second Black woman to serve on the board that oversees Los Angeles County’s robust $36 billion budget, the largest for a county government in the country.  The first Black woman to serve on the board of supervisors was Yvonne Brathwaite-Burke. She served twice: from 1992 to 2008 and from 1979-1980.  

“I have to think that somewhere on high, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is smiling,” said Jenkins in his remarks, acknowledging the installation of the all-women county board. “When she was asked by a reporter how many women it would take for her to feel that there was enough diversity on the Supreme Court, she said ‘all nine, all of them” Jenkins said, quoting Ginsburg. “And in the fab five, you all have accomplished just that.” 

Before the administering the oath, on a more personal note, Jenkins praised Mitchell, who he says he says he has known for over 25 years, for her accomplishments and leadership ability. 

“Holly is a deeply committed public servant,” Jenkins continued.  “She’s the best kind of public servant. She’s smart, a true visionary, pragmatic in her judgments, humble and forceful at the same time. And last, she is a leader – a charismatic leader.”  

Mitchell, who represented the state’s 30^th Senate District and was the only African American woman serving in the California State Senate from 2013 to 2020, succeeds Mark Ridley-Thomas, who is also Black. In her new role she represents the Second District of Los Angeles County. The district covers an area that includes parts of Los Angeles, Carson, Compton, Inglewood, Mar Vista, Ladera Heights, Crenshaw, Lynwood, and other cities. It is located in the region of the state that has the highest number of African Americans.  

“Equity will be at the center of all of our work,” Mitchell promised in her remarks. “As we fight to bring more housing to those in need, more mental health services, more job opportunities and real second chances for re-entry, they will be accomplished through that lens. And I look forward to collaborating with the newly-formed anti-racism initiative established by the supervisors.”  

Mitchell joins the board when Los Angeles County faces the worst occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. The county also faces a homelessness crisis that is the worst in the country, heightened racial tensions, a strained relationship between law enforcement and minority residents of the county, among other problems.  

The other women on the board are: Hilda L. Solis (First District), who served as United States Secretary of Labor during the Obama administration; Sheila Kuehl (Third District); Janice Hahn (Fourth District); and Kathryn Barger (Fifth District).  

During the virtual swearing-in ceremony, soul singer and Oakland native Goapele sang “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” and religious leaders representing Christianity, Judaism and Islam offered prayers. The event’s Master of Ceremony Manuel Pastor, a professor at the University of Southern California, also paid tribute to Native American ancestors he called the “caretakers of the land.” 

Assemblymember Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), who says she looks up to Mitchell and considers her a “big sister,” has announced that she is throwing her hat in the race for Mitchell’s Senate seat.  

In another virtual ceremony last Friday, Gov. Newsom swore in Jenkins to the California Supreme Court.  

“The residents of the Second District are fortunate to have you represent them,” said Ridley-Thomas to Mitchell. Ridley-Thomas served on the board for 12 years.  

“I’ve worked with Holly for many years through state and county partnerships, tackling some of the most daunting social issues of our time — homelessness, child maltreatment, human trafficking, poverty, criminal justice reform and structural racism,” Ridley-Thomas said. “She is a trailblazer, a leader, a fighter on the frontlines pushing for equity and justice for those who have no one else to stand up for them.” 

The former Poyner Spruill litigator and historic, Black ‘trifecta’ queen titleholder to continue firm work in integral new role

NATIONAL—– Current “Extra” television correspondent and Miss USA 2019 Cheslie Kryst has been announced as North Carolina-based law firm Poyner Spruill’s first Diversity Advisor. The prestigious law firm is one of the country’s oldest, its roots tracing back to the 1800s.

“I am honored to return to the firm where I previously served as a member of the litigation team,” said Kryst who was a member of the 90-attorney firm’s litigation team before being crowned Miss USA. “This role will allow me to provide guidance on diversity and inclusion, using my previous experience serving as a member of the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, my studies earning an undergraduate degree with a focus in human resources and my Master of Business Administration degree, and my various experiences speaking nationwide about diversity, equity, and inclusion.”

As a Diversity Advisor, Kryst will sharpen and advance Poyner Spruill’s diversity and inclusion goals. Her role will also see her working alongside the multidisciplinary law firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Kryst’s practice at the firm previously focused on complex civil litigation. She was also active in assisting the firm with diversifying its ranks and fostering an inclusive environment by interviewing diverse internship candidates through the firm’s involvement in the NCBA Minorities in the Profession program and the Charlotte Legal Diversity Clerkship, helping to author the firm’s first Diversity and Inclusion Plan, and organizing the firm’s annual Black History Month celebration.

While on sabbatical during her reign as Miss USA 2019, she continued to advocate for change and used her platform to speak against injustice, noting her passion for criminal justice reform, and has worked pro bonofor clients serving excessive time for low-level drug offenses. She traveled across the country speaking about diversity and inclusion, including most notably in a workplace culture discussion hosted by the Society of Human Resource Management, during which she addressed harassment, ageism, and generational differences, among other issues. In her onstage questions during the 2019 Miss USA Competition, Kryst spoke in support of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements and described the Millennial generation as “innovative” before going on to win the title.

“We are excited to have Cheslie serve the firm in this new role and to remain part of the Poyner team,” said Dan Cahill, managing partner of Poyner Spruill. “Her passion, world experiences, and knowledge will offer great insight and direction. Our firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee is energized about working alongside Cheslie to continue progressing towards and reaching our goals as we commit to fostering a firm culture that is both diverse and inclusive.”

Kryst, a Charlotte, NC-native, is the first attorney to win the Miss USA title and was the longest-reigning Miss USA in the competition’s history. She was notably part of the “trifecta” of Black queens who wore the crowns of America’s three most well-recognized and reputable pageants – Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Teen USA – simultaneously this past year.

Since October 2019, Kryst has been working as full-time correspondent at “Extra” where she covers the latest celebrity and entertainment news. She is active in her role as a Global Impact Ambassador for Dress for Success and serves on the National Board of Directors for Big Brothers Big Sisters America.

“I am looking forward to amplifying the voices of the underrepresented in this new role” said the 29-year-old Kryst. “It is an honor that Poyner Spruill trusts me to make an impact.”

By Cedric ‘BIG CED” Thornton, Black Enterprise

There is history being made! According to Deadline, as of February 1, 2021, Rashida Jones will be taking over as president of MSNBC, making her the first Black executive to lead one of the major cable news networks. She is replacing Phil Griffin, who will be stepping down next year.

The chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group, Cesar Conde, had made the announcement in a memo that was sent to the staff. According to NBC News, Jones, who is currently senior vice president at NBC and MSNBC, will take over at MSNBC on Feb. 1.

Jones currently leads the breaking news and major events coverage.

Conde announces the move via a staff memo:

“Rashida knows and understands MSNBC, in part because it’s where she started when she first joined NBCU seven years ago.  She knows that it is the people who work here that make it great, and she understands its culture. She also appreciates the impact and potential of the brand.

“As you know, Rashida currently leads coverage of breaking news and major events across NBC News and MSNBC, in addition to overseeing dayside and weekends news programming on MSNBC. In the last year alone that has meant, of course, that she has masterfully guided our coverage of the global pandemic, the social justice protests and unrest, Decision 2020, and the two most-viewed Democratic presidential debates in television history. She helped lead the preparation for Kristen Welker’s role as general election debate moderator. And she has steered many of our groundbreaking editorial series, including Justice for All and Climate in Crisis.”

Before she joined NBC News, the Hampton University graduate was the news director for the NBC affiliate in Columbia, South Carolina, and also served as director of live programming for The Weather Channel.

WASHINGTON, DC— Walker’s Legacy is proud to announce the release of its COVID-19 Relief Micro Grant. As part of the continued commitment to elevate minority women owned small businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19, Walker’s Legacy is inviting multicultural women small business owners across the United States to apply for the Walker’s Legacy COVID-19 Relief Micro Grant.

Through this grant Walker’s Legacy intends to reward eight women with $500 for their entrepreneurial efforts. To apply, respondees must submit a response to Walker’s Legacy COVID-19 Impact Survey funded by the Gates Foundation. Through this survey, Walker’s Legacy will establish quantitative and qualitative data on the effects of COVID-19 to assist multicultural businesswomen and develop an action plan to support multicultural businesswomen in combating economic setbacks based on the current environment. The goal is to reach multicultural women who have been deeply affected by the impacts of COVID-19 through this survey.

By submitting a response to this survey, each respondee will be automatically entered for a chance to receive a $500 grant. Survey respondents must be submitted by December 28th at 11:59PM EST. Additionally, two survey respondents each week will be selected at random for a $50 Amazon gift card and a 1-year free membership to Walker’s Legacy. 

The COVID-19 Impact Study and the COVID-19 Relief Micro Grant initiatives are reflective of the continued commitment Walker’s Legacy has to multicultural women entrepreneurs. To learn more about this grant opportunity please refer to the COVID-19 Relief Micro Grant page. To take the COVID-19 Impact Study survey, click here.

By Brooklyn White, Essence

We are sad to report on the passing of actress Natalie Desselle-Reid, who appeared in movies such as B*A*P*S, Set It Off, Cinderella and Madea’s Big Happy Family. She also had a starring role in the UPN show Eve. Fellow actress Holly Robinson Peete first shared the devastating news. 

“Just absolutely decimated by this news…,” Peete wrote on Twitter. “Actress Natalie Desselle, bright shining star passed away this morning.” She added that she had gotten to know Desselle-Reid through her mother, who once managed the late star. “She will be so missed…sending out prayers to her children and husband. Rest in Peace, Sweet Girl.”

Desselle-Reid grew up in Louisiana and attending Grambling State University. Her first roles for both television and film came in 1996, when she was featured in Family Matters and Set It Off. Her innate wit was immediately noticeable, and she was given the opportunity to further expand as an actress in following years, appearing as primary characters in Robert Townsend’s 1997 film B*A*P*S and as the stepsister Minerva in Cinderella. Desselle-Reid starred alongside Halle Berry and Brandy, respectively. 

As far as television is concerned, she is perhaps most famous for her work on Eve, for which she played one of the best friends of the main character (portrayed by Eve Jeffers). 

An official statement on Desselle-Reid’s passing was shared through Instagram. 

It reads: “It is with extremely heavy hearts that we share the loss of our beautiful Natalie this morning. She was a bright light in this world. A queen. An extraordinary mother and wife… Her diverse career touched so many and she will be loved forever. Naturally, we are grieving and processing this profound loss and we thank you in advance for respecting our privacy at this extremely difficult time.”

TMZ has reported that Desselle-Reid passed away from colon cancer.

We are sending our sincerest condolences to the Desselle and Reid families during this time. 

By Stacey Brown, NNPA Newswire

The first wave of coronavirus vaccines should reach the public this week, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommending that all adults receive the vaccination in 2021. 

While the CDC said there should be enough doses for as many as 20 million people to receive vaccination by the end of December, health officials expect a much larger supply in the coming months.  

Still, with a justified distrust of unproven vaccines, and a perceived limited participation by African Americans in clinical trials that lead to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, many question whether African Americans will accept vaccination.  

Others are also concerned that, even if the Black community generally accepts the vaccine, would doses be available. 

Distrust among the community

“I’m guessing white folks will be first in line,” Monica Roderick, a Temple Hills, Maryland mother of four, opined.  

“One of the reasons I shudder when I hear people talk about how Black people are still suspect because of the Tuskegee Experiment and other vaccines that ended wrong is because it tends to give other folks the greenlight to leave us out,” Roderick said. 

She continued: 

“This virus is the worst thing the world has seen in 100 years.

“It’s too important not to consider the vaccine, especially since most people affected by the coronavirus are Black and Brown.” 

Putting whether the Black community can trust the vaccine aside, the next controversy on the immediate horizon is whether African Americans will have access. 

The initial supply certainly will overwhelm demand, CDC officials said. The federal government plans to distribute the vaccine in phases. 

Health care workers and patients in long-term health care facilities are first in line.  

According to guidelines, senior citizens and those with high-risk comorbidities and essential workers are next. 

After that, state and local government officials will determine who next receives a vaccination.  

No plan to reach the Black community

So far, most states have yet to develop a concrete plan.  

The outline reportedly provided suggested no explicit details about reaching marginalized populations like the Black community who have suffered the most. 

“I’m looking at social media, and I’m seeing [Former President] Barack Obama saying he’ll take the vaccine on television, and I’m shaking my head,” said Tonia Everhart, a Northeast, Washington, D.C., nurse.  

“First, understand that Obama isn’t necessarily the most trusted voice in the Black community, and he’s not a doctor.  

“While I understand what he’s trying to do to encourage participation and eliminate fear, our community needs Black medical professionals, trusted voices, to say it’s okay to take the vaccine and then we need to be assured that we are not going to be left behind when the vaccine becomes available,” Everhart demanded. 

Health officials agreed. 

Local leaders needed

“You need that deep community engagement to strategize and inform what needs to be done, community by community,” Eric Toner, a senior scholar with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, who was the lead author for Johns Hopkins’ Covid-19 vaccine allocation framework, told NBC News. 

That means engagement of local leaders, from pastors to principals, to reach hesitant individuals, he said, adding that such strategies are particularly key to reaching historically marginalized and disenfranchised communities. 

“That is a public health priority not only for ethical and moral reasons but because that’s where a lot of the transmission of the disease is happening,” Toner added. 

“It’s absolutely true that we can’t reach them solely through public messaging,” Toner continued.  

“States need to be working now to create the relationships in those communities with trusted leaders to encourage people to seriously think about getting vaccinated.”

By Lou Yeboah

“I’ve been telling you for a long time now to repent. But you have not heeded to a word I said. Well I got news for you. If you think this year was bad, next year, will be a Tsunami, Hurricane, and Storm, all in one. Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it shall be more tolerable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.” [Luke 10:13–15]. I’ve warned you in January 2020 that the New Year would not be what you expected. Did you listen? No.  I am alerting you once more, come 2021, the New Year will not be what you may expect! 

Man has never experienced anything like what will occur during the Great Tribulation. And it is prophesied to come upon us suddenly—and unexpectedly! In [Luke 21:34-35] Jesus said it would be like a snare—catching us completely off guard. Isaiah compared it to the collapse of a high, swelling wall “whose breaking comes suddenly at an instant.” [Isaiah 30:13].

Sudden destruction—that’s what Christ associates with the events leading to His return. And it all unfolds at the very time most people least expect it. “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” [1 Thessalonians 5:3]. It will be so bad that even ambassadors of peace will weep bitterly according to [Isaiah 33:7].

When we look at the four seals of [Revelation 6], we have to understand them in the context of God’s age long message to mankind. When these horsemen make their rides, it will be after repeated warning and pleading from God to turn from sin and live righteously based on His eternal law of love toward God and man.

I’m convinced that all the fearful things we see coming upon the earth right now — all have to do with the coming of Christ. Beyond all the war clouds gathering, beyond the gross darkness covering the earth, a cloud is being formed in heaven. And one day soon Christ is going to enter that cloud and reveal himself to the whole world. [Luke 21:31].

Man’s world faces an inevitable death. Every dimension of our culture, every dimension of our society is escalating on the down slide, being devastated by depravity, more and more given over to lust and pride and self-indulgence, immorality and rejection of God and Christ, and the truth of Scripture. And thus man is sentenced; his whole world is sentenced to divine wrath. [Revelation 14:10].

Listen, when God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, He told them: “If you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the Lord who heals you” [Exodus 15:26]. However, if they disobeyed and broke the covenant, they could expect disease to afflict them, their families and their nation.

Notice: “But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God.?.?. the Lord will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land into which you go to possess. The Lord will smite you with consumption, with fever and inflammation.?.?. and the tumors, the scurvy and the itch, from which you cannot be healed. The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of [mind and] heart” [Deuteronomy 28:15, 21-22, 27-28].

[2 Samuel 16] says there is wrath gone out from the Lord.  [Isaiah 13:9] said, “Behold, the day of the Lord is coming, cruel with fury and burning anger and He will exterminate sinners.” Amos cried in chapter 4 verse 12, “Prepare to meet your God.”

LORD HAVE MERCY ON OUR SOUL!

God instructed Jeremiah to give his people this warning: “Therefore thou shalt speak all these words unto them; but they will not hearken to thee: thou shalt also call unto them; but they will not answer thee. But thou shalt say unto them, This is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of the Lord their God, nor receiveth correction: truth is perished, and is cut off from their mouth.” [Jeremiah 7:27-28].

By Charles Ellison, the b|e note

Surveys have documented disproportionate disinclination among Black people in the United States to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus – a cause of substantial concern for public health professionals given the Black population’s high rates of infection, hospitalization and death from COVID-19. This study delves deeply into these compunctions, relying on an unusually large, random national sample of Black Americans, a review of the literature on vaccine uptake and consultation with experts in the field.  

Confirming previous findings, fewer than half of Black adults, 48 percent, say they probably or definitely would get a coronavirus vaccine if it were available for free – including just 18 percent who definitely would get vaccinated. Among Latinx adults, interviewed for comparison, far more likely would get vaccinated, 66 percent, including 31 percent definitely.

Safety and trust concerns are pervasive in both groups – but their higher levels among Black people are key in these differing vaccination uptake intentions. 

“Student Loans Weigh the Heaviest on Black and Hispanic Students” 

READ more …

Student loan debt weighs more heavily on students of color than on their white counterparts.

For example, if you look only at four-year public colleges, an estimated 86.8 percent of Black students borrow federal student loans to attend, but just 59.9 percent of White students do the same, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

With rising tuition costs outpacing inflation and wage growth, many students are struggling to afford college. In fact, about 44 million Americans owe over $1.48 trillion in student loan debt.

But according to our in-depth analysis of data from Demos and NCES, Black and Hispanic students are paying more when it comes to student loans than White students.

“Increased Winter Drownings in Ice-Covered Regions with Warmer Winters” 

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Winter activities on ice are culturally important for many countries, yet they constitute a high safety risk depending upon the stability of the ice. Because consistently cold periods are required to form stable and thick ice, warmer winters could degrade ice conditions and increase the likelihood of falling through the ice. This study provides the first large-scale assessment of winter drowning from 10 Northern Hemisphere countries. We documented over 4000 winter drowning events. Winter drownings increased exponentially in regions with warmer winters when air temperatures neared 0°C. The largest number of drownings occurred when winter air temperatures were between -5°C and 0°C, when ice is less stable, and also in regions where indigenous traditions and livelihood require extended time on ice. Rates of drowning were greatest late in the winter season when ice stability declines. Children and adults up to the age of 39 were at the highest risk of winter drownings. Beyond temperature, differences in cultures, regulations, and human behaviors can be important additional risk factors. Our findings indicate the potential for increased human mortality with warmer winter air temperatures. Incorporating drowning prevention plans would improve adaptation strategies to a changing climate.

Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that California will provide temporary tax relief for eligible businesses impacted by COVID-19 restrictions. The temporary tax relief entails an automatic three-month income tax extension for taxpayers filing less than $1 million in sales tax, extends the availability of existing interest and penalty-free payment agreements to companies with up to $5 million in taxable sales and provides expanded interest free payment options for larger businesses particularly affected by significant restrictions on operations based on COVID-19 transmissions. The total tax relief, if fully utilized, is estimated to have billions in impact.

Additional information on the tax credit program and applications can be found here.

The state will build on its ongoing support for businesses impacted by COVID-19 with a new $500 million COVID Relief Grant program. The Governor also announced that the state would expand the California Rebuilding Fund by $12.5 million, bringing the total investment to $37.5 million. These efforts are informed by recommendations made by the Governor’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery. 

CalOSBA is establishing the COVID Relief Grant program and will make it available to small businesses as soon as possible – for updates on availability visit here.