WSSN Stories

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

DO NOT listen to all those soothing voices whispering you have all the time in the world. “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:6-7].

For Gods says in [Isaiah 48:9] “For my own name’s sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise, I hold it back from you, so as not to destroy you completely.”  I’m putting my grace on display, my mercy, my long suffering, my patience, but that want last forever.  This is all the more urgent, for you to know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for your salvation is nearer now than when you first believed. [Romans 13:11].

Understand, the offer of Salvation has a time element to it! How much time is left, you ask? Now that we do not know. That is a mystery that God holds in His hand, and He will not tell us. But what He does tell us is that it’s later than you think. It will not be long before this present age as we know it will end. Wake up and do it NOW! The time is short! And be careful how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. [Ephesians 5:11].

Understand, salvation is a life and death matter, it’s a matter of heaven or hell! When you give your life to God you are not only saved from sin, the evil one, and death; you are also saved from the wrath of God and the judgment to come. The point of this paragraph of God’s Word is that there will be no escape for any of us who neglects our great salvation. [Hebrews 2:1–4].

Besides, if Jesus came on the scene saying “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at Hand” how important do you think it is? Wake up and do it now! For the Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” [2 Peter 3:9].

In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. [Acts 17:30]. As [Luke 13:22] admonishes, make every effort to enter the narrow door, because many will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the master of the house gets up and closes the door, you’ll stand outside knocking and pleading, sir open the door for us. But “He will answer,” I don’t know you or where you come from. Don’t wait until it’s too late!

Consider this borrowed time, that God has allotted, which can be compared to the seven days of grace God gave to the people in Noah’s day. The ark was finished, and all the people and the animals were onboard; but God gave all those outside the ark seven days of grace. He told Noah, for yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy from off the face of the earth [Genesis 7:4].

God left the door open so that those who wanted could enter the ark, but they just mocked and made fun of Noah and his family like they had been doing for many years. And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth…and the Lord shut him in [Genesis 7:10,16].

Time is about to run out. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Enter the Ark. It is not the will of your Father which is in Heaven, that you should perish [Matthew 18:14; 2 Peter 3:9]. If you have any conscience at all, you will enter the ark while the door is still open.

You know the prophet Isaiah was told to tell King Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order: for thou shalt die, and not live. Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, and said, remember now, O Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore [Isaiah 38:1-3].

God did not disagree with Hezekiah, so He gave him borrowed time. Then came the word of the Lord to Isaiah, saying, Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years [Isaiah 38:4,5]. Every minute of that was borrowed time because God had originally said that Hezekiah’s time was up. God’s grace!

So, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. [2 Peter 3:8].

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. [Hebrews 9:27].

Behold, NOW is the accepted time; Behold, NOW is the day of salvation [2 Corinthians 6:2].

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for NOW, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand [Romans 13:11-14]. For, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” [Mark 1:15].

And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, and swore by him that liveth forever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer [Revelation 10:5,6].

You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Luke 12:40].

By Jasmyne Cannick

President Joe Biden not seeking re-election isn’t just good for Democrats looking to stave off a second Donald Trump presidency, but it’s good news for all the other candidates on the ballot who were at serious risk of millions of Democratic voters sitting out November altogether.

This unexpected, but much needed, turn of events has generated a wave of reactions across the nation, but one thing is clear: Vice-President Kamala Harris’s entry into the presidential race is going to provide a significant boost to down-ticket races for the Democratic Party.

Before Biden’s delayed departure from the election, the Democratic Party was doing an excellent job at ignoring the increasing number of voters of all ages who were not willing to compromise their morals or values in November for Biden to vote in the lesser of two evils–which to them is still evil. From the administration’s handling of the Israel-Hamas War, immigration, the economy, and more–these Democrats were okay with dealing with the consequences of Biden losing understanding that they will struggle under Republicans, they will struggle under Democrats. No matter who is in office, they will struggle. Why should their conscience be in conflict as well? And that was before Biden’s Weekend at Bernie’s debate performance.

Biden staying on the ticket wasn’t just going to hurt our chances to keep The White House and democracy alive in the US, but it was going to hurt all the local and state candidates and propositions that had the luck of being on the same ballot had Democratic voters sat this one out.

Now, I am not really under the illusion that his decision not to seek re-election had anything to do with the millions of Democratic voters who were set to watch the chips falls where they may. I am pretty sure it had to do more with hard to have conversations about the millions of dollars that were not going to go to the Democratic Party had Biden stayed the course. And now that Harris is in and will be the presumptive nominee, the spigots are on again and the money is flowing. I haven’t seen this much excitement for a candidate since a then Senator Barack Obama earned the nomination of the Democratic Party back in 2008.

Whether you like her not, for millions of Democrats, Kamala Harris represents a new era of leadership, one that is more inclusive and reflective of America’s diverse population. Within 24 hours, her candidacy has galvanized a broad coalition of voters, including women, People of Color, and young people. This renewed enthusiasm at the top of the ticket is going to have a ripple effect, energizing the base and increasing voter turnout, which is crucial for down-ticket candidates.

For states like California and counties like Los Angeles, the largest in the US, this is a game changer.

Californians have 11 ballot propositions on their November ballot. Among them, a controversial ballot proposition to repeal parts of Proposition 47 (Prop 47) and increase drug crime and theft penalties and allow a new class of crime to be called treatment-mandated felony, which gives offenders the option to participate in drug and mental health treatment.

Prop 47 was a ballot measure passed by California voters on in 2014 that made some non-violent property crimes, where the value does not exceed $950, into misdemeanors. It also made some simple drug possession offenses into misdemeanors and provided for past convictions for these charges to be reduced to a misdemeanor by a court. Under Prop 47, offenders qualified for a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor for certain crimes including: certain forgeries, commercial burglary, petty theft with priors, bad check, grand theft crimes, possession of stolen property, and possession of a controlled substance.

Realistically, there is very little that could happen to keep California’s 54 electoral college votes from going to Harris—assuming she’s the nominee—a low voter turnout of Democrats would favor this conservative backed proposition.

Even though local races are “technically” nonpartisan in California, a similar fate was projected in the Los Angeles County’s district attorney race that sees progressive prosecutor Democrat George Gascón fighting to keep his job against former Republican turned No-Party-Preference Nathan Hochman. Hochman has been endorsed by at least 6 of the 9 people (excluding Gascón) that he ran against during the primary. Setting the stage for a second showdown between Gascón and seemingly everyone else who was on the ballot during the primary and has now lined up behind Hochman.

Harris’s historic candidacy as the first Black and South Asian woman on a major party’s presidential ticket holds immense symbolic value. Her presence has already mobilized minority voters who feel underrepresented in the political arena. Increased turnout among these demographics can significantly impact races at all levels which is going to be especially key for progressive candidates like Gascón and criminal justice reform measures on the November ballot whom these voters are more likely favor.

President Biden’s decision to step aside has opened the door for Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic ticket and give us a fighting chance to avoid another Trump presidency. The announcement of Harris as the potential nominee has raised more than $81 million in the 24-hour period since Biden’s announcement.

Facts. Harris’s candidacy has energized the base, already mobilized key voter demographics, and strengthened the party’s overall electoral chances. As we move towards the election, Harris is going to be a powerful catalyst for important down-ticket races. She was just the lifesaving move that had to happen in order to bring the Democratic Party back to life because all races on the ballot with Democrats were going to suffer had Biden stayed on the ticket. Now, on to November.

Jasmyne Cannick is a Democratic strategist and elected delegate to the LA County Democratic Party.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL– Global superstar Ciara and NFL quarterback Russell Wilson celebrate their son Win’s fourth birthday with Mickey Mouse at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. It was Win’s first visit to Magic Kingdom Park and the family spent the rest of his magical day enjoying iconic attractions including the new Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. (Olga Thompson, photographer)

Sonya Massey Shot in the Face and Murdered by White Deputy Sean Grayson

On July 23, 2024, CBS News reported that bodycam video of the fatal shooting of Sonya Massey was released by Illinois State Police Monday afternoon, showing a chaotic scene after a sheriff’s deputy shot Massey in the face during a tense moment over a pot of water in her home. On July 23rd, Mother Jones Reported, “She needed a helping hand,” attorney Ben Crump said at a press conference on Monday. “She didn’t need a bullet to the face.” On July 6, Massey reportedly called the authorities about a potential prowler around her Springfield home. Officer Grayson and another deputy arrived on the scene.

The Art of the Cover-Up:

On July 23, 2024, The Guardian reported that police audio obtained by the Guardian features someone on the scene the night of Massey’s killing – presumably a deputy – saying Massey’s wound was “self-inflicted.” A dispatcher asks to confirm, and the person on the scene repeats, “Self-inflicted.” The recording is in line with what the family says was misleading information given by police when Massey was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. This incident reminds Black people in America that we can be unjustly murdered by those who are supposed to serve and protect us. It also serves as a stark reminder of the historical challenges and barriers Black women face in the United States and how unsafe it can be when calling law enforcement for help.

“As the Democratic National Convention approaches in Springfield, Illinois, we urge lawmakers from both parties to embrace robust police accountability measures. Ending Qualified Immunity and implementing other necessary policies are crucial steps to ensure the safety of Black Americans from unjust actions by law enforcement, such as the tragic incident involving Sonya Massey. During this critical time, we stand in solidarity with the community in Springfield, including the family of Sonya Massey and activists nationwide. We must remain united in advocating for justice and Systemic change. Together, let us work towards a future where all Black individuals are treated with dignity and equal protection under the law.”

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

The National Park Service (NPS) is set to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Port Chicago explosion, a tragic event that claimed the lives of 202 Black sailors. The incident occurred on July 17, 1944, in Contra Costa County, when 4,606 tons of ammunition being loaded unto two U.S. Navy cargo ships detonated, instantly killing 320 men on site and injuring another 390 workers.

On July 20th, the National Park Service (NPS) in collaboration with Friends of Port Chicago National Memorial band, the U.S. Army’s 834th Transportation Battalion, will host the commemoration at the Military Ocean Terminal Concord (MOTCO) in Concord.

According to organizers, the event provides an opportunity for friends, family, journalists, and others interested in the history of the disaster to honor the memory of the victims and shed light on the largest mutiny trial in U.S. naval history.

The Rev. Amos C. Brown, President of the San Francisco Branch of the NAACP, and the Pastor of the Third Baptist Church of San Francisco, says he continues to seek justice for the men who died in the blast and survivors who later were accused of rebellion.

“It was nothing but another instance of forces in America being perpetrators of hate, harm, and hardship of Black folks,” Brown said of tragedy and the injustice that followed. These Black men who died in that blowup several miles from San Francisco should never be forgotten.”

Jake Sloan, an Oakland resident with extensive knowledge of San Francisco Bay shipyards that attracted many African American men from the South seeking employment during the World War II, attended the 75th commemoration of Port Chicago at MOTCO.

Sloan, the author of “Standing Tall: Willie Long vs. U.S. Government at Mare Island Naval Shipyard,” said standing on the grounds where the explosion occurred was a surreal feeling.

“It was quite an event. It was exciting in a way and sad in another way,” Sloan told California Black Media (CBM) of his experience at the monument site. “I actually walked through the site in addition to attending the ceremony. If you’re an African American, and if you know the story, you can almost feel it.”

Located 35 miles northeast of San Francisco, the Port Chicago pier was built in 1942 and expanded within two years to accommodate space for the loading of naval cargo ships.

According to the Naval History and Heritage Command (NNHC), around 10:18 p.m., a “seismic shock wave” that started at Port Chicago shook the entire San Francisco Bay and “was felt as far away as Boulder City, Nevada. The explosion was so powerful that it decimated both ships, sent debris flying for miles over the Suisun Bay, and left a large crater in place of the pier.

Brown also said the African American sailors were unfairly blamed for the explosion, which was later determined to have been an accident likely caused by unsafe working conditions and lack of proper training.

What ensued after the explosion highlighted the racial disparities in the Navy’s policies at the time.

“In the aftermath, surviving sailors were ordered to resume the same dangerous tasks without any changes to safety protocols,” NPS described on its webpage dedicated to Port Chicago Naval Magazine, which was converted into a National Memorial Park. “On Aug. 9, 1944, 258 African American sailors refused to work, leading to 50 being charged with mutiny.”

The men were dishonorably discharged for refusing to follow a racially motivated order to clear debris from the area and retrieve sailors’ appendages, many of them who were the survivors’ friends and fellow servicemembers. White officers were given hardship and time off following the accident.

U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA-10) have been working to seek justice for victims and their families.

“The Port Chicago 50 were ordered to their deaths in the summer of 1944, nearly four years before President Truman signed the executive order formally banning racial segregation in the American military,” Garamendi said in 2023. “Now, almost eight decades later and even after President Clinton’s 1999 pardon for Freddie Meeks, the families of the Port Chicago 50 convicted for mutinying against an order that should never have been given are still waiting for justice.”

The court hearings and trials were conducted at Treasure Island Naval Base in San Francisco and Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo.

In an Aug. 24, 1980 interview for the University of California-Berkeley’s Port Chicago Oral History Project, Meeks said it was reported that the explosion was a “sabotage” mission. He countered that argument, saying that some of the bombs were handled “lackadaisically” by the soldiers. Many of the bombs had to be rolled on and off the ships, causing them to bump against each other if the sailors on the other end didn’t adequately retrieve them, Meeks said from his perspective.

On Feb. 23, 2023, Garamendi, DeSaulnier and U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12), presented a House Resolution recognizing the victims of the Port Chicago explosion and the clearing the court martial charges against the African American sailors.

“These 50 courageous sailors have suffered the impact of racial discrimination throughout their service in World War II, and their names have been tainted for 73 years,” Lee said in a February 2023 statement. “In today’s political climate, we must come together against discrimination and inequality. It is imperative that we rectify this wrongdoing and bring justice to those sailors who made great sacrifices for our nation.”

By Dr. Ron Daniels

I sincerely believe Joe Biden is a decent, caring human being who has been an outstanding President. However, I am also convinced that it is time to express our gratitude to Biden for his exemplary service and respectfully ask him to step aside. It’s time to rally around Vice-President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic Party and this nation to victory over Donald Trump and the MAGA Movement.

With the race between Biden and Trump essentially deadlocked for months (which is scary) with large numbers of American voters expressing consistent concern over the age of both candidates, Biden’s political advisors and strategists made a bold decision to “shake-up” the race by calling for the earliest presidential debate in the history of presidential debates. Their gambit was that Biden would put the “age” issue to rest by winning the debate as he did against Trump in the first debate in the 2020 campaign.

It was a bold move that backfired badly. Within the first few minutes of the debate the optics of Biden’s appearance and slurred, mumbling speech confirmed the worst fears of vast numbers of voters that he was too old to serve another term as President. Though an “old” candidate himself, whose incoherent utterings at rally’s have not been sufficiently highlighted in the media, Trump proceeded to vigorously pummel Biden with a line of outrageous lies that were not challenged by the Moderators or more importantly, not countered consistently and effectively by a tired, weary looking and all too often incoherent President: a disturbing scene that led political commentator Dr. Julianne Malveaux to describe as a debate between the “Mumbler-in Chief and Liar-in-Chief.”

Trump was pathetic, but Biden was a disaster, not only because he looked old, but his performance also revealed some serious slippage in his cognitive capacities which solidified the perception in the minds of large numbers of voters that he should not be re-elected President. No matter what Biden’s supporters may think, “perception is reality.” Therefore, the path forward out of this painful predicament must be based on that reality!

Democrats are not only in danger of losing the White House, but there is also a legitimate concern that if Biden hangs on, the negative impact on down ballot races for the Senate and House of Representatives could be devastating. Under these dire circumstances, it’s time for bold, decisive action. I believe Biden must be persuaded to graciously and enthusiastically step aside and pass the torch to the person he selected to be the first Black Woman Vice-President of the United States, Kamala Harris.

Biden deserves praise for the extraordinary accomplishments of the Biden-Harris administration in the face of one of the most severe crises in the history of the nation, the global COVID-19 Pandemic which precipitated an economic collapse with “Great Depression” levels of unemployment, business and home foreclosures, homelessness, hunger and poverty. Lest we forget, it was Joe Biden who outlined a bold agenda to “Build Back Better” and skillfully navigated a rigid, seemingly unshakable partisan divide to successfully pass the most impressive and impactful series of social and economic legislation bills since Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ).

And, because of an inexplicable reluctance to tell the story or ineffective messaging, it is easy to forget the fact that Joe Biden not only selected a Black woman to be his running mate, he selected the first Black woman to the Supreme Court and proceeded to advance a “Lift Every Voice” Black Agenda which translated into issuing an Executive Order on Equity; vigorously supported the George Floyd criminal justice reform act and John Lewis Voting Rights Act; massive increases in funding for Pell Grants and Historically Black Colleges and Universities; billions of dollars in the Department of Transportation to rebuild Black communities decimated by urban renewal and more recently by gentrification; and 5 billion to address gun violence in Black communities based on the Live-Free Model that only failed to be enacted due to reductions in the size of the bill demanded by conservative Democrats as a concession for their vote to ensure passage. Biden has yet to enact the HR-40 Commission by Executive Order but has signaled support for a “study bill.”

You can make the case that Joe Biden has the most significant civil rights record since John F. Kennedy (JFK) and LBJ. Plaudits are in order for Biden’s extraordinary record of accomplishments, but all that he has achieved is definitively endangered by the prospect of victory by Trump and MAGAISM. Democracy is in danger and Black America is in danger if the Democrats fail to win the White House. And, that prospect looms large in face of the troubling revelations about a decent human being and exemplary public servant that the nation and the world witnessed during the debacle of July 27th and its aftermath.

We respect, appreciate and admire you President Biden, but the perilous historical moment we face demands that we rally around Vice-President Kamala Harris to lead the Democratic Party joined by independents, disaffected Republicans and people of conscious and good will to a resounding victory over Trump and MAGAISM!

President Biden, I predict that an enthusiastic statement from you announcing that you are passing the baton to Vice-President Kamala Harris will be an electrifying moment; a historical moment that will break the current stalemate in the campaign for president. Kamala Harris is an extraordinary leader who will brilliantly present and defend the milestone legislative record of the Biden-Harris administration and articulate the urgency and vision for “finishing the job” in this moment of grave threat to democracy.

As a Black woman with Caribbean and Asian South Pacific Island roots, I predict that Black women, women of color and women of all backgrounds will rise-up and rally around Kamala Harris as she leads the charge to protect women’s reproductive rights and fulfills Biden’s pledge to pass federal legislation restoring the rights enshrined in Roe v. Wade.

Polls have consistently indicated “lukewarm” support among Black voters as the most reliable base of the Democratic Party. Well, that’s about to change. The Black base will be fired-up as Kamala Harris clearly and articulately shares the substantial record of accomplishments on racial justice issues by the Biden-Harris administration, and continues to fight for the Floyd and Lewis Acts and openly embraces HR-40 (polls commissioned by the organization Reparations United indicate that pledging to enact the HR-40 Commission by Executive Order will motivate unlikely voters, especially younger Black voters, to come off the sidelines and engage).

As the esteemed, legendary, elder statesman Rev. Jesse L. Jackson might say, rallying around Kamala Harris will “Keep Hope Alive,” that victory over the retrograde, reactionary forces of Trump and MAGAISM is not only possible but certain. So let us not equivocate or hesitate; we need an urgent and immediate groundswell positively urging and encouraging President Joe Biden to endorse his loyal, dedicated running mate, Vice-President Kamala Harris as his replacement as the Democratic Party’s candidate for President of the United States. That historic announcement will mark the beginning not of a Blue Wave, but a tsunami, a massive wave of Rainbow voters marching on ballot boxes to defeat Trump and MAGAISM and rescue democracy; a momentous victory that will pave the way to resume the essential complex task of creating a “more perfect union.”

Dr. Ron Daniels is President of the Institute of the Black World 21st Century, Founder of the Haiti Support Project and Distinguished Lecturer Emeritus, York College City University of New York. His articles and essays appear on the IBW website www.ibw21.org. His weekly radio show Vantage Point can be heard Mondays 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM EST, USA on WBAI, 99.5 FM, Pacifica in New York, streaming live via www.ibw21.org. To send a message, arrange media interviews or speaking engagements, Dr. Daniels can be reached via email at info@ibw21.org

LOS ANGELES, CA–– Award-winning journalist and best-selling author Christal Jordan Jennings announced today that she has accepted the role of Editor-in-Chief of the Los Angeles-based culture and hospitality magazine, Lenox & Parker. Jennings recently resigned after 10 years as a contributing Writer/Host and Director for rolling out magazine. “This was a bittersweet decision,” Jordan admits. “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with rolling out and have much respect for publisher Munson Steed. I believe it is so important that we as a community own and share our stories from a firsthand perspective. This opportunity gives me a chance to be a co-owner of a powerful platform which makes all the difference for me at this point in my career. Lenox & Parker is a Black-owned publication and allows me as a writer to celebrate our cultural legacies in a much different way. I feel blessed to have been a part of rolling out’s voice over the last decade and I’m beyond excited to help create and shape and own the voice of Lenox & Parker.”

Jennings lists several highs during her time with rolling out, including last year’s viral moment with Jada Pinkett Smith and the opportunity to highlight Ava Duvernay’s ‘Origin’. “I’ve had numerous career highlights with rolling out, including the interview last year with Jada Pinkett-Smith that went viral, and several others. My most memorable would probably be my interviews with the legendary Cicely Tyson, and living legends Jenifer Lewis and Phylicia Rashad. I have no regrets, only excitement surrounding my next chapter,” Jennings shares.

“One of the things I was most proud of was cover stories that felt like an ode to the ones I grew up savoring as a young girl eagerly opening a copy of Essence in my mailbox. Lenox & Parker gives me the opportunity to create beautiful cover stories that feel like the ones that motivated me to become a writer.”

Lenox & Parker’s mission includes the five tenents, food & tavel, humanity, culture, lifestyle & music. Publisher Victor Flavius says he created the platform to ensure Black history continues to be celebrated in real time. He says adding Jordan was a move in the right direction for the platform. “We are happy to welcome our newest Editor-in-Chief, Christal Jordan Jennings. With her impressive background as an author and publicist, Christal brings a wealth of experience and creativity to our team. We are excited to see her vision and leadership shape the future of our magazine, inspiring our readers and setting new standards of excellence in every edition. Here’s to an exciting new chapter under her exceptional leadership,” Flavius says.

Jordan’s experience and commitment to integrity are reasons he was convinced she was the right candidate for the magazine. “We’re not chasing pop culture, we’re celebrating Black culture in its entirety,” he explains. “Our headlines and features don’t mimic what is seen on gossip blogs. Lenox & Parker was birthed from a time when Black culture was more than a salacious piece of celebrity gossip. We believe our readers want and deserve to see unapologetic Black excellence.”

Flavius says Jennings is a needed addition to the magazine’s future success. “Christal has a love for Black literature and our community as a whole. She has freelanced for us over the last few years and with us moving into a more competitive space, we are happy to have her bring her expertise and passion Lenox & Parker. We believe her authenticity and passion for highlighting Black culture is the voice we need for Editor-in-Chief,” Flavius says.

Jennings officially steps into her new role on Monday, July 22nd. “I’ve been able to work with some great publicists, agencies, specifically entertainment multicultural departments over the last ten years. I look forward to continuing to work with the people I’ve built these relationships with to continue sharing our stories. I believe this role will allow me to share, celebrate, educate and inform at a higher level. The goal is to carve out a place in today’s Black media space that resonates with a Black Renaissance, titled, Lenox & Parker,” Jordan shares.

Her first order of business is creating a new cover integration for the magazine. “Our cover strategy is innovative and includes AI as we are including storytelling along with celebrating talent in a more comprehensive way. Our current hospitality partner allows us to access guests for Hilton hotels across the country,” Jennings explains.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

You know [Luke 16:19-31] tells a parable about a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in hades [Hell], being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.

And he called out, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame. But Abraham said, “Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.”

And he said, “Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.” But Abraham said, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them. And he said, “No, Father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” He said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” [Luke 16:19 – 31]. Living in Eternity with regrets.

The rich fool made plans he thought would give him security for the rest of his life. He planned for whatever could possibly occur, but according to [Luke 12:20], he did not plan for what was certainly going to happen. Ponder the brevity of life from the Book of Psalms and remember how short your time is. [Psalm 39:5; Psalm 78:39; Psalm 89:47; Psalm 90:10; Psalm 102:3; Psalm 144:4]. For as David said in [1 Samuel 20:3], “Truly, as the Lord lives and as your soul lives, there is but a step between you and death.” And to not be 100 percent ready for something that is100 percent certain is 100 percent foolish. The rich man’s experiences set before us some terrifying realizations. Hell is real! A place of conscious anguish and a place of profound regret. Don’t ignore Hell’s reality! Seek Salvation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ is imminent. [Matthew 24:44].

By Chris ‘Baba C’ Chatmon

As we embrace the warmth of summer, I want to take a moment to reflect on the significant milestones we’ve celebrated recently. This season, we honored the remarkable figures in our lives on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, recognizing the invaluable support and love our elders provide. I was humbled when friend, mentor and venerable elder, Ron Walker, took note of my musings about A.I., or what I refer to as Ancestral Intelligence, in a letter related to his endeavor, A Legacy of Leading. Ron is an extraordinary man and leader whose thinking I encourage you to discover here.

Continuing in our own legacy building, we held Crowning Ceremonies in both San Francisco and Seattle.  These celebrations remind us of the strength and dedication within our community, especially as we conclude another school year.  As we are half way through our second year in our West Oakland space, KOO Labs Design Center and Production House and June 7th Street Thrives hosted an inaugural community cleanup with neighborhood businesses.   The love that we focused on during our annual Spring Symposium in April is what we aim to foster at our local hub serving and preserving the community in this way.

Spring Symposium is also when we shared voices from the community with the new edition release of Griots of Oakland which features interviews of another 80 local Black youth in the acclaimed book series.  A screening of the powerful documentary,  Black Boys, hosted by Wu Yee Children’s Services at UC Hastings followed the book launch in June. I have been a part of these important events for the past year which provide a deeper understanding of lived experience of our young Kings.

Summer offers a unique opportunity for reflection, planning, and growth. As students, teachers, and administrators, it is a time to practice being lifelong learners.  We ended the school year with an unprecedented achievement: establishing a Black Educators’ Coalition to dismantle barriers hindering high-quality educators of color from becoming credentialed classroom teachers.  The Fellowship Initiative (TFI) offered its rising juniors a growth opportunity as well when TFI Oakland and TFI Los Angeles joined forces in a tour of eight universities across Northern California.

Finally, I’ll be heading to a university myself at the end of July when I travel to Louisiana for Xavier’s Magnificent Male Weekend designed to empower and inspire Black male students who are rising juniors in high school, providing a platform for growth and connection, much like our own TFI program.

As we look ahead, let’s carry the spirit of continuous learning and growth into the upcoming year. Together, we can build a brighter future for our community, one that thrives on curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.

Wishing you a summer filled with joy, discovery, and rejuvenation.

By Antonio? ?Ray? ?Harvey? ?|? ?California? ?Black? ?Media?

After an emotional hearing on July 2, the Assembly Public Safety Committee voted to advance Senate Bill (SB) 1414 with an 8-0 vote. The legislation is an anti-sex-trafficking measure designed to increase penalties for those who purchase sex from children,

SB 1414, co- authored by Senators Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Anna Caballero (D-Merced) and Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park), will be reviewed by the Assembly Appropriations Committee after the legislature break ends on Aug. 5.

The legislation has received bipartisan support. However, “critical amendments” were removed, Grove said. She is not satisfied with the language currently in the bill and is pressing members of the Assembly Public Safety Committee to allow key provisions to be restored.

“I am disappointed that they didn’t accept the amendments for all minors to be protected under felony convictions,” Grove said after the committee’s vote.

“I am not going to give up fighting for those 16 and 17-year-olds – and all minors,” Grove stated.  “Now, the district attorneys would have to prove two crimes: that they were bought and sold in order to go back to the perpetrator (trafficker) who initiated the whole process.”

SB 1414 made it off the Senate floor with a 36-0 bipartisan vote on May 23. Before the floor vote in the Senate, the Senate Public Safety Committee amended SB 1414, weakening protections for children ages 16 and 17, Grove said.

The committee’s amendments included charging violators who purchase children 15 and under for sex as wobblers (crimes that can be punished as a felony or misdemeanor). According to the current language of the bill, solicitation of a 16 and 17-year-old child is only punishable as a misdemeanor. The second amendment to the bill calls for the felony charge to only carry possible jail time — not time in prison.

Grove and her supporters’ other concern is that a third amendment to SB 1414 states that only perpetrators with a previous conviction of buying sex from a child 15 or under, on the second offense and with over a 10-year age gap of the victim, must register as a tier one sex offender.

Dr. Stephany Powell, a retired Los Angeles Police Department sergeant who has over 30 years of sexual exploitation and trafficking experience gained through law enforcement, testified in front of the Assembly Public Safety Committee.

“First of all, there’s no way in the world that (these amendments) are protecting a 16 or 17-year-old,” said Powell, who now assists victims of human trafficking. “Just by the age alone, they are considered to be a victim of human trafficking. That’s your proof right there.”

Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), chair of the Public Safety Committee and a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC), told Grove that he supports SB 1414 and commended her efforts to bring “more accountability to the sex trade.”

McCarty said he is willing to make SB 1414 “stronger,” but he is not willing to allow Grove to buck the rules of the Legislature to push her amendments through.

“That’s not on the table. As the rules, you know, we can’t go change that,” McCarty said of Grove’s amendments request.

On June 2, Anne Irwin, the founder and director of Smart Justice California, emailed California Black Media (CBM) a statement responding to SB 1414. Smart Justice sides with the amendments made by the Democrats in the Senate and the Assembly.

“California Democrats have once again demonstrated their commitment to protecting vulnerable children from abuse and exploitation,” Irwin stated. “With the recently adopted amendments, SB 1414 now represents a smart policy solution that prioritizes the safety and well-being of all minors. By allowing felony prosecutions for solicitation of 16 and 17-year-olds when there is evidence of human trafficking, lawmakers have further improved the bill – which was originally overly broad and would have had harmful unintended consequences.”

In its original form, SB 1414 criminalized soliciting or engaging in any act of commercial sex with a child aged 17 and under a felony. Grove also wanted the removal of the 10-year age gap requirement for the sex offender registry.

Grove blames the Democrats in the Senate Public Safety Committee for watering down the bill’s language.

The Assembly Public Safety Committee added amendments requiring proof that 16 and 17-year-olds are victims of human trafficking for a buyer to be held accountable and charged with a stronger penalty.

“It shouldn’t be difficult to get a bill out of this building that protects children from those that want to purchase them and buy them for sex,” Grove said. “It should be simple. It’s completely bipartisan. I have co-authors who are Democrats. I have several Democrats and principal co-authors, but there are a few people in the building who make it sound like we are doing the wrong thing.

Victims of human trafficking, Odessa Perkins and Brianna Moseley were two of many sex trafficking survivors who visited the State Capitol last week to show their support for SB 1414. Some of the survivors were in tears sharing their experiences.

Perkins is the founder of emPOWERment, based in Kern County. The nonprofit services vulnerable youth and human trafficking survivors.

If the Assembly Appropriations Committee votes to advance SB 1414, it will move to the Assembly floor for a vote. In the interim, Grove said she will continue to fight for the amendments she believes will strengthen the bill.

“Don’t be fooled by the Public Safety Chairs’ announcement that they restored a felony for purchasing children in SB 1414,” Grove said. “All children in California, across the nation, girls and boys, deserve to be protected equally.”