WSSN Stories

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

God’s warnings are meant for our good. [2 Timothy 3:16]. God never tells us to do something without a reason. If God gives us a warning in Scripture, [Matthew 24:15] it is there for our good. For God’s Word is our keeper, the watcher of our souls; and when a danger is approaching, it rings the alarum and gives us warning. So, consider the message and understand the vision. [Daniel 9:33].

Jesus has been detailing the destruction, devastation, and hardship that all of us will face soon and very soon. Unprecedented wrath and devastation. A time of suffering and despair, so please take heed; for he has told us all things beforehand. [Mark 13:23]. He said when you see ‘the abomination that causes desolation’ standing where it does not belong–let the reader understand.

Jesus did not give these instructions for us to speculate about the future. He gave them that we might be armed and ready. I tell you, wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets, she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings. How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you, my teachings. Understand that My warnings are meant for your good. [2 Timothy 3:16]. Take Heed! If you do not, I will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you- when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. For then you will call Me but I will not answer; you will look for Me but will not find Me, since you hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since you would not accept My advice and spurned My rebuke, you will eat the fruit of your ways and be filled with the fruit of your schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill you, and the complacency of fools will destroy you; but whoever listens to Me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.” [Proverbs 1:20–33]. Let the reader understand. The End is Near!

LOS ANGELES, CA—- From May 1st-2nd, 2024, Maternal Mental Health NOW (MMHN) hosted a two-day “Sex & Perinatal Mental Health Conference” in recognition of Maternal Mental Health Month, focusing on the critical intersection of maternal mental health and sexual wellness during the perinatal period. The event brought together healthcare professionals, sex educators, lactation consultants, holistic healers, and community advocates to discuss innovative solutions and advocate for better systems that support the emotional well-being of expectant and new parents.

“Protecting the mental health needs of Los Angeles County’s pregnant and postpartum individuals requires a holistic approach that integrates sexual health,” said Kelly O’Connor, Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health NOW. “This conference empowers birthing care professionals to provide diverse individuals and families with trauma-informed and culturally appropriate care.”

Perinatal mental health disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety, affect approximately 1 in 5 women in Los Angeles County. These challenges particularly impact marginalized communities, with Black women experiencing maternal mortality rates three to four times higher than white women, often due to disparities in access to quality healthcare and culturally competent services.

MMHN’s event highlighted the importance of integrating sexual wellness into perinatal care, especially for underserved communities. By fostering open dialogue and collaboration, MMHN aims to reduce stigma and promote inclusive practices that support the mental well-being of pregnant and postpartum individuals.

“When we don’t actively ask and talk about sexual wellness in reproductive mental health, we are complicit in the societal implication that assigned-female-at-birth bodies are meant to reproduce, not to experience pleasure” said speaker and licensed professional counselor Catharine McDonald. “Once a person has birthed, their reproductive organs have served their purpose and lost value.”

MMHN remains committed to advancing initiatives that promote maternal mental health awareness and advocate for policies that prioritize equitable access to care for all families in Los Angeles County.

For more information about Maternal Mental Health NOW and upcoming events, visit www.maternalmentalhealthnow.org.

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) announced last week she is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill to honor Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the United States Congress.

Butler, the only Black woman currently serving in the U.S. Senate, and Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-GA.) proposed the legislation to posthumously endow Chisholm with Congress’s highest award in commemoration of her accomplishments, activism, and legacy.

If the bill passes, Congress will present Chisholm, who was elected in 1968 to represent New York’s 12th District in the United States Congress with the Congressional Gold Medal. A statue of Chisholm will also be erected in the U.S. Capitol in her memory.

“Shirley Chisholm left a mark on our nation’s history that demands its own recognition,” Butler said.

“She was a trailblazer — the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first to run for President — who opened doors for generations of Black women,” Butler added.

Chisholm, a lifelong public servant, worked in education and social services before being elected as the second African American to the New York State Assembly in 1964. She is remembered as a passionate leader who advocated for women and minorities through legislation she introduced and supported.

Warnock said Chisholm’s legacy inspired him to fight for the rights and well-being of Black Americans.

“Shirley Chisholm broke barriers for Black women, Black Americans, and any American who refuses to be confined by injustice,” Warnock said.

“As an educator, and a trailblazing Congresswoman and presidential candidate, she fought for an inclusive democracy, one that lives up to our nation’s highest ideals of equity and justice under law,” he added.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Why? Why would you delay? You know one of the most tragic phrases in the English language is “too late.”  It indicates something that once held promise now is without hope.  Listen, I cannot tell you when the door will shut, only that it will shut one day.  I cannot tell you who will be allowed into the kingdom of heaven, only that Jesus is the gatekeeper.  And according to the gatekeeper’s own testimony, there will be those who will be left outside, the foolish ones, the ones who were invited but rejected the invitation or were so negligent and casual about the invitation they failed to prepare properly for it.  Oh, foolish virgin. Don’t you know that the most important thing a person can do in this life is to get prepared for the next. To get ready to meet God. It’s your responsibility to do because one day you will stand face to face with Christ either by death; [Hebrews 9:27] or by rapture; [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17] and you want to be ready because once the master of the house gets up and closes the door, you’ll stand outside knocking and pleading, Lord, Lord, open the door for us. But “He will answer,” I don’t know you or where you come from.

Please don’t wait until it’s too late!  For when the Lord comes again, the time for salvation is gone! Be ready… this is the basic message of the parable. Oh, Foolish Virgins!

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Photographs serve as historical records, framing both big moments and small ones. Those images evoke a range of emotions such as passion, sadness, joy, nostalgia and more, connecting us emotionally to the history captured in them.

L.A.-based photographer and organizer Ron Wilkins, 78, showcases powerful images he captured from the Black liberation movements of the of the 1960s and beyond in his new book “Crook’s Lens: A Photographic Journey Through the Black Liberation Struggle,” published on Jan. 30, 2024.

The book by Wilkins includes photographs of renowned revolutionaries with whom he interacted, including Huey P. Newton, Angela Davis and Stokeley Carmichael (aka Kwame Ture).

“I have a responsibility to our African ancestors who struggled for our liberation, who made sacrifices and committed a lot of time,” said Wilkins. “Some of them lost their lives in that struggle. I felt as an activist/organizer after all these years that since I’m still alive, I have a responsibility. The book is also a reflection of my evolution and ongoing work. I felt it was important I share my history, especially with young people. They can learn something from my example and carry on the struggle.”

Wilkins was born in San Francisco, but his family relocated to Los Angeles in 1959. His peers gave him the nickname “Crook,” which is reflected in the title of his book. Constantly looking for ways to make money, Wilkins often resorted to stealing and reselling things.

He recalls, “On a couple of occasions, guys would look at me and say, ‘you’re quite a crook.’ That’s how I got the name. When I became politically aware and became part of the struggle, people would often call me Brother Crook.”

Eventually, Wilkins started stealing cars.

One fateful night he was arrested and served 8 months in a juvenile detention center. The harsh reality of that experience, he says, shook him to his core, steered him away from crime, and kickstarted his journey as an artist with a revolutionary perspective.

He started to capture images of history-making moments through his lens. His subjects became some of the most influential Black organizers and activists of the time.

“When I was in detention, I noticed how segregated the place was and I spearheaded a movement on the part of Black inmates against those who were holding us, to end segregation in the pen. That was 1963. After I was released and returned to the street, the Watts rebellion jumped off. That was the cauldron that helped me develop a revolutionary consciousness and decide to become a part of a movement to fight the system and do this for the rest of my life.”

In 1967, Wilkins joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) after that group began to embrace the principles of the Black power movement, he told California Black Media.

During his time with SNCC, Wilkins met a professional photographer within the organization. He began to learn more about photography. This chance meeting planted a seed of inspiration within him to capture images of the growing movement he was observing and in which he was participating.

“There is a saying ‘seeing is believing’. I could tell you something but in the back of your mind you would think I’m just talking. But if I show you the image, the picture makes it very plain. That is the power of photography.”

Wilkins’ book chronicles his life story through a diverse collection of photographs, capturing his encounters with historic Black organizers in the liberation movement and his travels to Africa. However, his most prized photo is of 5 Black girls sitting on the porch of the Pyramid Housing Projects in Cairo, Illinois in 1972.

The housing project had been under attack by White supremacists in the area. Wilkins traveled to Illinois to serve as an armed patrolmen tasked with protecting the residents.

Additionally, Wilkins photographed Nina Simone, who was invited to lead a protest march through the heart of downtown, where White business owners were refusing to hire Black employees.

“One morning walking home from patrol, I ran across these five black girls sitting on a step after a night of enduring all of this gunfire. I saw them and said, ‘don’t move.’ I think it was the best picture I ever took. It captured so much feeling. Their facial expressions. Their spirits were still intact. They had a quiet courage that their bodies reverberated with. They could see hope in the future, even though they had endured a night of this intense gunfire.”

Wilkins’ hope is that his book will uplift the spirit of the young revolutionaries he photographed and inspire others to recognize that the struggle is not over. He also hopes it will remind young people that they can aspire to the same heights of passion, intelligence, and bravery that define the lives of the heroes depicted in his photos. 

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to CA vs Hate.

By Joy Le Page Smith, MA, BCC

Years back Gary and I hired a man with great tree expertise to trim the trees about our home. We chatted frequently and he became a friend while beautifying our trees. He told of his “past life” as an executive with an office in a high rise within a big city.

While sitting at his desk one day he looked from his 7th floor window and saw a tree-trimmer at work. He thought, “That’s the life I want to live.” So after studying how best to do this earthy art, he started this new endeavor of trimming trees–and became superbly good at it.

Then a disabling accident found him depending on a doctor’s prescription for pain medications. He functioned well although everything about life was hard for him. Then came the time when opioids gained national attention due to their overuse by millions of people whose doctors were not closely monitoring the use of them. Many doctors, as well as our friend’s doctor, started warning their patients, as much as possible, about their prescription usage.

Our friend, now living on a “minimal amount” of the opioids as compared to what his doctor had permitted previously, found it far from adequate for managing his constant, agonizing pain. He called me, “Joy, I think as a chaplain you may be able to answer a question for me. What do you think God will do in my case if I take my life?”

I felt tremendous compassion for his plight. Then, without hesitation I told him that we have a merciful God, a loving God—and added that I believe we are to see our challenges on earth as opportunities to grow in our strength and through God’s help to be able to handle them. Yet, there are instances wherein a person has formidable pain and their back is against the wall to the point they can no longer tolerate living and breathing here on earth . . . some do make that final, momentous choice to end their life. Who can know if in that veracious moment the person takes his or her cause to the throne of God in prayer. I would like to believe that our Creator comprehends all and that person who is so sick goes straight into the loving arms of God. Yet, life is such a gift. And all judgement belongs to God.

Our friend was one who talked with us frequently about His love of Christ and of his prayers to be faithful. We prayed with hearts brimming with concern for him. Two years passed when we received a call informing us that our friend had ended his life.

Upon knowing of his choice I thought back on my words to him and prayed to always be helpful, not harmful. Still, in my heart of hearts, I want to believe he is in God’s loving arms and that we will see him again in Heaven. Clearly, there are sicknesses that some of us will never encounter. Therefore some circumstances can only be judged by God.

Life on earth can bring huge challenges, but God’s help is here for us on terra firma. Proverbs 18:10 say, “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” The name of Jesus holds power far greater than any other name we can speak. When we ask, the Lord of heaven does hear and He can extend strength beyond any we could have had without His help. Trust it. Try it. Believe!

About the author: Joy Le Page Smith is a Board certified clinical chaplain and author of four books. Her website at www.healing-with-Joy.com carries her blog and books along with an animated video of her children’s book.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Ain’t nobody preparing for Christ Return. That’s a darn shame!  Jesus Christ is coming back and according to [1 Corinthians 7:29] the appointed time has grown very short. That stands as both a warning and a promise. Why are you not preparing for Christ return? Christ’s return is imminent, and his timeline makes it urgent. And given the urgency of the time, how then shall we live? I tell you, everybody prepared for the Solar Eclipse, but ain’t nobody preparing for Christ Return. That’s a darn shame!

Jesus calls us to watch for his return. Why? “For we know neither the day nor the hour” [Matthew 25:13]. I admonish you to beware of the warning “As A Thief in the Night” [1 Thessalonians 5:2] because unlike man who gives us a date when they have things planned… the Lord’s return will be surprising to us [2 Peter 3:7-12] so prepare now! Make your election sure because if you are caught unprepared when Christ returns, you are going to live with regret for the rest of your life and you will have no one but yourself to blame, because God’s Word has already given you such ample warning that His coming will take place unexpectedly. Please do not let that warning go unheeded. Act upon it now!

For the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. [Matthews 24:35; 2 Pet. 3:10; Rev. 20:11].

Please be ready for His return! For the great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, [Zephaniah 1:14].

By Antonio Ray Harvey, Maxim Elramsisy, Lila Brown and Joe W. Bowers Jr.| California Black Media

A member of a White supremacist group wrote a racist letter addressed to members of the California Legislature and Attorney General Rob Bonta claiming deaths of Black mothers and children during childbirth are God’s will.

Earlier this month, the Assembly Committee on Health voted 12 to 2 to advance Assembly Bill (AB) 2319, the California Dignity in Pregnancy and Childbirth Act, legislation crafted to address the high infant mortality among Black women.

Opposing that decision last week, a person claiming to be a member of two racist, White Supremacist organizations sent a letter to the office of Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson (D-Suisun City).

Wilson, Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), is the author of AB 2319.

“I submit this letter in strong and vehement opposition of AB 2319,” the letter obtained by California Black Media stated. “We believe that every non-White birth in this state is a drain on the taxpayers and that any miscarriage or complication that results in death or defect of the mother, or the child, is God’s way of ensuring population control among Blacks and other minorities.”

Wilson said she and her staff were shocked by the raw hatred expressed in the letter.

“The recent racist opposition to our efforts to secure equitable health care for every Californian is not only offensive but deeply concerning,” stated Wilson.

“As the Chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus, I unequivocally condemn these views, which are steeped in hate and ignorance. The language used in this letter is not only disgraceful but dangerous and has no place in our society or legislative discourse. I want to make it unequivocally clear: there is no place for hate in California.”

Wilson said she and other colleagues opposed to bigotry — including Republican members, who have also condemned the letter — “are committed to moving forward together, ensuring that our legislative efforts embody our unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the safeguarding of human rights for everyone.”

By Bo Tefu, Antonio Ray Harvey, Lila Brown, and Joe W. Bowers Jr. | California Black Media

The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. “Chip” Murray, former pastor of First African Methodist Episcopal Church (FAME) in Los Angeles, died of natural causes April 6 at his Windsor Hills Home. He was 94.

“Today, we lost a giant. Reverend Dr. Cecil Murray dedicated his life to service, community, and putting God first in all things. I had the absolute honor of working with him, worshiping with him, and seeking his counsel,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass of the dynamic religious leader whose ministry inspired and attracted millionaires as well as former gang bangers and people dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).

Murray oversaw the growth of FAME’s congregation from 250 members to 18,000.

“My heart is with the First AME congregation and community today as we reflect on a legacy that changed this city forever,” Bass continued.

Murray served as Senior Minister at FAME, the oldest Black congregation in the city, for 27 years. During that time, various dignitaries visited, and he built strong relationships with political and civic leaders in the city and across the state, as well as a number of Hollywood figures. Several national political leaders also visited with Murray and his congregation at FAME, including Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton.

Murray, a Florida native and U.S. Air Force vet, attended Florida A&M University, where he majored in history, worked on the school newspaper, and pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He later attended Claremont School of Theology in Los Angeles County, where he earned his doctorate in Divinity.

Murray is survived by his son Drew. His wife Bernadine, who was a committed member of the A.M.E. church and the daughter of his childhood pastor, died in 2013.

ATLANTA, GA–Paris Fletcher, the founder and CEO of Full Bloom, continues to redefine success with her inspirational journey and steadfast commitment to empowering individuals worldwide. Full Bloom, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has rapidly emerged as a leading platform dedicated to helping people realize their true potential.

Fletcher’s entrepreneurial journey has been nothing short of remarkable. In its inaugural year, Full Bloom grossed an impressive $40,000 to $50,000. Fast forward to last year, and the company achieved upwards of $145,000 in revenue, primarily from the sale of thousands of journals. Reflecting on the company’s growth trajectory, Fletcher remarks, “We are definitely growing fast and developing a large fan base.”

What sets Full Bloom apart is its unwavering dedication to meeting the evolving needs of its audience. The company is consistently stocking more inventory to keep pace with the growing demand for its empowering products. This commitment to excellence has earned Full Bloom a loyal following and positioned it as a beacon of inspiration in the personal development space.

Female entrepreneurs like Paris Fletcher are driving economic growth and fostering innovation across industries. Despite facing significant hurdles, women-owned businesses are thriving, with statistics showing growth rates five times faster than the national average. Fletcher’s journey serves as a testament to the resilience and determination of women in business.

To learn more about Paris Fletcher and Full Bloom, visit www.fullbloominspo.com or on TikTok @Paris. Discover a wide range of empowering products designed to uplift and inspire individuals on their journey towards self-discovery and fulfillment.