WSSN Stories

(ABC NEWS) —- Legendary singer Tina Turner, known for her sultry voice and a string of platinum hits, has died at age 83.

The news was confirmed on Turner’s official Facebook page.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Tina Turner,” the statement said on Facebook. “With her music and her boundless passion for life, she enchanted millions of fans around the world and inspired the stars of tomorrow. Today we say goodbye to a dear friend who leaves us all her greatest work: her music. All our heartfelt compassion goes out to her family. Tina, we will miss you dearly.”

Turner became one of her era’s most enduring female artists, with smash hits like “What’s Love Got to Do with It?” and memorable movie appearances.

Rolling Stone once named her “one of the greatest singers of all time.”

Born Anna Mae Bullock on November 26, 1939, in Tennessee, Turner began performing at a young age. As a teenager, she immersed herself in the local rhythm and blues scene.

In 1956, she met Ike Turner from the band, Kings of Rhythm, and became part of their act under the stage name, Tina Turner.

Together, they recorded hits in the 1960s including, “A Fool in Love,” “It’s Gonna Work Out Fine,” “I Idolize You” and “River Deep — Mountain High” as part of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue.

Turner and Ike Turner married in Mexico in 1962, two years after the birth of their son, Ronnie.

Turner also released two solo albums while she was a member of the Ike & Tina Turner Revue: “Tina Turns the Country On!” in 1974 and “Acid Queen” in 1975.

Turner divorced Ike Turner in 1978, alleging years of physical abuse and infidelity.

In 2018, Turner opened up about the abuse she endured in an interview with The Sunday Times.

“There was violence, because he had this fear that I was going to leave him,” she said. “The other women, because I didn’t love him that way … the other women weren’t so bad, but it was the constant, constant ill treatment.”

In April, she told The Guardian that she wanted to be remembered as the “Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “as a woman who showed other women that it is OK to strive for success on their own terms.”

Turner had four sons. She was preceded in death by her two biological children: Craig Raymond Turner — whom she shared with Raymond Hill — and Ronnie Turner — whom she shared with Ike Turner.

She is survived by her sons Ike Turner Jr. and Michael Turner, who she adopted from her ex-husband Ike Turner.

By Jaivon Grant | California Black Media

Malcolm X, originally known as Malcolm Little, was born 98 years ago on May 19, 1925. He was a prominent activist and minister during the 1960s civil rights movement. His unapologetic and passionate advocacy for Black rights brought him national attention. However, some have criticized his rhetoric as being extremist and racist.

Others explain that the assertive, Black nationalistic posture he took in his speeches was necessary for Civil-Rights-era America when discrimination and segregation were legal in many parts of the country and racism was routine in many aspects of life.

To that point, Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965 at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, spoke about what some considered his extremist viewpoints.

“I don’t believe in any form of unjustified extremism. But I believe that when a man is exercising extremism, a human being is exercising extremism, in defense of liberty for human beings, it’s no vice. And when one is moderate in the pursuit of justice for human beings, I say he’s a sinner,” he said.

In 1964, Malcolm X announced his separation from the Nation of Islam, changed his name again to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz and converted to Sunni Islam, the branch of the religion most Muslims around the world practice. After making a religious pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia and trips to Africa, Malcolm X began to preach less about America’s racist past and divisions and more about Pan Africanism and about the universality of principles like freedom, justice and human rights, especially as they concern people of African descent.

This week, as we celebrate what would have been Malcolm X’s 98th birthday on May 19, here are ten quotes that capture Malcolm X’s promotion of racial healing, tolerance and racial inclusion.

1. On self-love …

“There can be no Black-White unity until there is first some Black unity. We cannot think of uniting with others, until after we have first united among ourselves. We cannot think of being acceptable to others until we have first proven acceptable to ourselves.”

2. On intermarriage …

“It’s just one human being marrying another human being or one human being living around and with another human being.”

3. On Truth and Justice …

“I’m for truth, no matter who tells it. I’m for justice, no matter who it is for or against. I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.”

4. On Peace and Freedom …

“You can’t separate peace from freedom, because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”

5. On Racial and Religious Unity …

“During the past seven days of this holy pilgrimage, while undergoing the rituals of the hajj [pilgrimage], I have eaten from the same plate, drank from the same glass, slept on the same bed or rug, while praying to the same God—not only with some of this earth’s most powerful kings, cabinet members, potentates and other forms of political and religious rulers —but also with fellow?Muslims whose skin was the whitest of white, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, and whose hair was the blondest of blond—yet it was the first time in my life that I didn’t see them as ‘White’ men. I could look into their faces and see that these didn’t regard themselves as ‘White’”

6. On Love and Unity …

We need more light about each other. Light creates understanding, understanding creates love, love creates patience and patience creates unity.

7. On Learning to Hate …

“If you’re not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”

8. On Overcoming Hatred and Anger …

“Hatred and anger are powerless when met with kindness.”

9. On Fairness and Justice …

“You’re not supposed to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who says it.”

10. On Human Rights …

“I believe in human beings, and that all human beings should be respected as such, regardless of their color.”

This California Black Media report was supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library.

By Tanu Henry and Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

The 40 Acre Conservation League is working to acquire and conserve natural working lands towards greater human connection to nature for underrepresented groups.

Last week, the group held a meeting and reception in Sacramento and presented an award to Ernest Bufford, who owns a ranch located on 900-plus acres of land near Walker’s Basin in Kern County, according to ABC News 23.

Last year, the state awarded the non-profit a $3 million grant to ensure Black and other underrepresented communities have access to the great outdoors without fear.  The group’s founder Jade Stevens said she and other like-minded conservationists want to remove the social and historical barriers that prevent some African Americans from enjoying outdoor activities like, fishing, hiking, bird watching etc.

By Tanu Henry and Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

Gloria Molina, the first Latina to serve become a member of the California Assembly and on the first to serve on the L.A. City Council and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors has died of terminal cancer. She was 74.

“It is with heavy hearts our family announces Gloria’s passing this evening,” said Molina’s daughter Valentina Martinez in a statement. “She passed away at her home in Mt. Washington, surrounded by family.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass paid tribute to Molina.

“Gloria Molina was a force for unapologetic good and transformational change in Los Angeles,” wrote Bass in a statement. “As an organizer, a City Councilwoman, a County Supervisor and State Assemblywoman, Supervisor Molina advocated for those who did not have a voice in government through her pioneering environmental justice work, her role as a fiscal watchdog, and her advocacy for public health.

Bass said Molina “shaped Los Angeles in a lasting way while paving the way for future generations of leaders.”

“As the first woman mayor of Los Angeles, I know I stand on Supervisor Molina’s shoulders,” Bass acknowledged.

By Lou K Coleman

“The appointed time has grown very short” [1 Corinthians 7:29]. The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news.” Search out and examine your ways and turn back to the Lord.” [Lamentations 3:40] for the Spirit and the Bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” [Revelation 22:17].

Understand, no one, absolutely no one is excluded. All need repentance. And the need is urgent. Jesus said, “Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Jesus, the Son of God, is warning people of the judgment to come, and offering escape if we will repent. If we will not repent, Jesus has one word for us, “Woe, to you” [Matthew 11:21].

Listen to this sampling of the Bible’s descriptions of your lifespan: “a breath” [Job 7:7]; “a few handbreadths” [Psalm 39:5]; “grass” that lasts a day [Psalm 90:5–6]; “smoke” [Psalm 102:3]; “a passing shadow” [Psalm 144:4]; “a [vanishing] mist” [James 4:14]. You do not know whether your soul will be required of you tonight [Luke 12:20] or whether you will live to see it next year [James 4:13–14]. Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect. [Matthew 24:44; Matthew 25:13].

Christ is reminding us that He is about to return and render judgment and recompense. [Acts 17:30-31]. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.” [Isaiah 1:18].

Jesus is here holding out His hand to any and all who will turn from their sin and trust in Him. Remember according to the Bible, the appointed time has drawn very short. We never know how long we have to live. That’s the reason the Bible says, “Prepare to meet your God” [Amos 4:12]. Be ready at all times. “Be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect” [Matthew 24:44]. Are you ready?

Redeem the time. The days are evil, life is very brief, the time is urgent. Don’t waste it. There is going to be a Judgment in which every word that you’ve ever spoken, every thought you’ve ever had, every moral choice you ever faced, everything you’ve ever done will be accountable at the Judgment. And if you have not repented and given your life to the Lord, Jesus will say to you, “Depart from Me, you cursed; I never knew you” [see Matthew 7:23; 25:41]. Why because you didn’t receive Jesus Christ into your heart as Lord and Savior when you had a chance.

Time is too short for indecision and vacillation. Time calls for immediate action. God is whispering to you, come to Christ. Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of Salvation. Do not delay!

The Lord is giving you a window of opportunity to get right with Him, because soon the “Lawless One” [The Anti-Christ] will make himself known and the world will spin into a type of chaos that will not be compared to anything we have ever seen. Prepare, and get under the Almighty Wings. Move through the open window of opportunity that God has given you to REPENT.

You’ve Been Warned! Repent for the Kingdom of God is Near! If you do not, Woe unto you!

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On May 11, the Essie Justice Group (Essie), along with Bay Area leaders, community organizations, and advocates gathered at the Alameda County Superior Courthouse in Oakland to call attention to the damage inflicted on families and communities by the mass incarceration of Black women over generations. The event was part of the annual National Bail Out Campaign (NBO), #FreeBlackMamas.

The NBO #FreeBlackMamas campaign raises awareness about the human and financial costs of incarceration. The press conference focused on the voices and experiences of Black women, who have been disproportionately affected by mass incarceration. This is especially significant given that the number of women in prison has been growing at twice the rate of men in recent decades, with 80% of women in jail being mothers.

Essie is the nation’s leading advocacy organization for women with incarcerated loved ones taking on the injustices created by mass incarceration. They focus on organizing women who have loved ones in prison, including one in four women and one in two Black women in the US. Founded by Gina Clayton-Johnson in May 2014, Essie is a community of Black-led, Black-centered, multicultural organizers with a membership body of mothers, daughters, grandmothers, siblings, and partners of incarcerated people.

Since 2017, Essie has led Black Mama’s Bail Outs in California in the weeks leading up to Mother’s Day. To date, they have posted bond for 13 Black women totaling of $1.9 million. This year, in collaboration with the National Bail Out collective, two Black mothers and caregivers (one in Alameda County and one in Los Angeles County) will be released on bond so they can spend Mother’s Day with their children and families.

Betty McKay, a member of Essie and a formerly incarcerated woman, hosted the event. She set the tone of the gathering by introducing the speakers, sharing her personal story, and leading the audience in the Essie chant ‘We come for ours, and when we come, we win.’

“I hold these bailouts close to my heart because I know what it means to be caged,” said McKay. “We believe in a future where our loved ones are free. What I know to be true, is that we are here because we are still buying our folks freedom, just like slavery days. Mass incarceration is the new slavery. We will continue to buy freedom until we abolish mass incarceration.”

Gina Clayton-Johnson, Executive Director of Essie, spoke passionately about the organization’s mission and shared some of the innovative ways Essie is changing bailout culture. For women who have lower incomes, affording bail is impossible when the median bail amount in California is $50,000, five times the national average. Under her watch, 473 mothers and care givers have been freed nationwide.

“We don’t allow the bail industry to see not one penny of this money that we raise,” said Clayton-Johnson. “We don’t get the discounted rate; we don’t get to pay the 10% that the bail industry lets you pay and then go into debt with them. We raise all the money, give it to the court to buy the person’s freedom. Once that case is disposed of, we get that money back so we can continue to bail out more Black women.”

Clayton-Johnson highlighted the fact that when Back women are released from prison, they can provide support to others who have been victims of the prison industrial complex.

“There are tens of thousands of people who come home from jails and prisons every single week. Where do you think they go? When people come home from prison they are most likely coming home to the arms of a Black woman. What we are here to say is free Black mamas and to remind you that Black women are the blueprint for re-entry.”

Assemblymember Mia Bonta (D-Oakland) spoke about her commitment to the cause of freeing Black women.

“I am making sure our public defenders get funded. When we have a system that puts five dollars to the district attorney’s office and one dollar to the public defender’s office, that is broken,” she said. “Black mamas are going to jail because we’re criminalizing poverty. We need to ensure we are actually building pathways to work and rehousing when our mamas come back to us, when our brothers and sisters come back to us, they do not have any doubt they have a home to go to and can immediately provide for her family.”

Shaundrika Price, a beneficiary of an Essie bond and services, testified about how Essie has impacted her life. A mother of five children, Price was imprisoned, and her bail was set at $200,000. Unable to pay, Price remained in Lynwood Women’s Jail in Los Angeles for months as her trial continued to be pushed back.

“Every person I got to know at the women’s jail had mental health needs and trauma like I did,” said Price. “What people don’t understand is that many of us locked up in the system have not been convicted of a crime. Locking women and Black mamas up is not the answer.”

Brendon Woods, a public defender from Alameda County, was the last speaker. He gave a passionate speech about the injustices surrounding the bail industry.

“This criminal justice system is hellbent on caging Black mamas because they cannot afford to post their bail,” said Woods. “This has nothing to do with public safety. This is about wealth, a system built on money, power, privilege, and White supremacy.”

“California itself holds about 40,000 people a year in a cage and they haven’t been convicted of a crime,” Woods continued. “They are presumed innocent, and they are caged. What this means is that people cannot afford to buy their freedom, or they are coerced into a plea deal for their freedom. It should not be that way.”

For more information or to donate, visit the National Bailout Campaign.

LOS ANGELES, CA— Dre’lentless Productions CEO and Filmmaker Andre K. Jefferson is offering audiences a first look at his latest dramatic short film, ‘Heartbeat,’ during Mental Health Awareness Month. Heartbeat will premiere on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Succulent Studios, 11120 Scott Avenue, South Gate, California hosted by Actor Marcus Paulk from the UPN sitcom Moesha.

The film stars Andre K. Jefferson as Pierre who is the writer, director, and producer of the film. The film actors also include Monica Davis as Benecia, Quentari Walker as Kadaar, Conisha Wade as Nurse Vera, Tristian Bobo as child Benecia, and Ahmir K. Jefferson as child Pierre. A live Q&A with the film’s producer and cast will immediately follow the film’s screening.

The film shines light on the complexity of mental health, the value of suicide prevention, and the power of second chances. Heartbeat is filled with messages of hope and survival while providing an inside look into the mind of a person’s mental health fight. “As we observe Mental Health Awareness Month, I am proud to bring important dialogue around this subject that affects everyone. This event will serve as a community-driven and solution base intervention to remove the stigmas around mental health, provide awareness, and lower suicide rates, says Jefferson.”

In conjunction with the film premiere, this event will include a panel of mental health professionals who will answer questions about mental health and provide insight on the topic.

To celebrate the film premiere, This is My Brave, KBLA 1580 AM Talk Radio, Los Angeles County Take Action for Mental Health, and African Communities Public Health Coalition have partnered with Dre’lentless Productions CEO and Filmmaker Andre K. Jefferson to present this event.

Vendors onsite include Heirborne, The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, West Shores Realty, Our Community, Sucre’ Couture, KBLA 1580 AM Talk Radio, 102.3 FM KJLH Radio, and performances by This Is My Brave.

Heartbeat Memorial Wall: Upload a photo of your loved one who was lost to suicide at www.heartbeatfilmevent.com.

The event is free and open to the public with advanced registration. Registration is strongly encouraged. To register visit www.heartbeatfilmevent.com. Connect on Instagram at www.instagram.com/heartbeatthefilm.

By Maxim Elramsisy | California Black Media

Rae Benjamin, a Los Angeles resident and writer for the Netflix series “The Witcher,” is among more than 11,000 members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) participating in a strike that has disrupted film and television production.

For almost a week now, writers have been picketing major studios in Los Angeles and New York City, after failing to reach a new contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

The writers’ contracts expired on May 1 and negotiations with the Film and Motion Picture Association (FMPA) have not resulted in an agreement.

“For me, streaming residuals are really important,” stated Benjamin, one of the few Black writers in the union.

“Whenever they re-air an episode television writers would get a check based upon that,” she explained. “When network shows were the only options, content was constantly re-aired, and it really rewarded people who worked on a popular show. You could be making money from that show, years and years later, because it’s in syndication.”

Benjamin says the compensation structure is different for streaming companies like Netflix.

“They refuse to release data on how many people actually watch your shows, even though it’s easy to do. Because they’re refusing to do that we could not get accurately paid for our work. We can’t get paid the residuals and streaming that we’re owed,” she said.

In the past decade, streaming platforms, particularly Netflix, have disrupted the traditional cable television model by producing new shows with shorter seasons in an effort to attract new subscribers.

Last week, the AMPTP offered annual salary increases for writers and made other concessions, but the WGA has yet to respond to the proposal.

“When you see what was put on the table, and then you see that the producers negated most things, even proposals such as making sure that we’ll have jobs and not robots take our jobs, and there’s no proposal for that No. counter for that,” said Benjamin. “It’s a little scary to think that, hey, there’s an AI that might be able to write your entire show, and no one seems to be fretted about that at all.”

In a statement, AMPTP acknowledged that the emergence of Artificial Intelligence technology “requires a lot more discussion.”

“AI raises hard, important creative and legal questions for everyone. For example, writers want to be able to use this technology as part of their creative process, without changing how credits are determined, which is complicated given AI material can’t be copyrighted, the statement reads.

WGA’s proposal stipulated, “AI can’t write or rewrite literary material, can’t be used as source material; and MBA (Minimum Basic Agreement) covered material can’t be used to train AI.” AMPTP rejected the offer and countered with an offer of “annual meetings to discuss advancements in technology.”

AMPTP did not make a counteroffer regarding proposals about duration of employment, which the writers say is too short and akin to freelance work.

“On network shows we would typically be employed for a long time, because there were more episodes. It would be 20 to 30 episodes of the show, which means you were employed 40 to 45 weeks out of the year,” said Benjamin. “We would just take a break in between seasons and come back. So being a writer was a very stable career. Now, because of extremely short orders of streaming shows, it’s become more unstable. Worse than that, these companies don’t want to hire people for a reasonable amount of time to complete a show.”

Benjamin says showrunners and show creators cut corners by hiring writers for a short time then build on their work with rewrites and edits.

“The actual writers get a job for two weeks, which is very little pay,” she said. “I think it also disproportionately affects Black creatives, because a lot of times they’ll hire us to do the cheapest amount of labor.”

West Hills-based writer Sid Quashie told the Los Angeles times he made $250,000 for a script he sold to Walt Disney Studios in 2003. Sixteen years later in 2019, when he sold a script to Netflix, he made under $100,000.

In 2007, the WGA went on a 100-day strike that cost the city of Los Angeles an estimated $2.1 billion and countless jobs as all corners of the industry and others adjacent to it were impacted.

Only one week into the 2023 strike, there are already casualties.  Late night shows were canceled abruptly. Daily shows stopped. Productions for all shows are tenuous, with many on pause.

Gov. Gavin Newsom and Mayor Karen Bass, who have received support from both sides of the dispute, have expressed their concerns and are advocating for a resolution.

Newsom said Tuesday at the Milken Institute Global Conference that the work stoppage “has profound consequences direct and indirect. Every single one of us will be impacted by this, and we’re very concerned about what is going on because both sides are dug in. The stakes are high.”

“Los Angeles relies on a strong entertainment industry that is the envy of the world while putting Angelenos to work in good middle class jobs. I encourage all sides to come together around an agreement that protects our signature industry and the families it supports,” Mayor Bass said.

In the short term, streaming platforms with more scripts banked may have an advantage, as they can continue their productions. Daily and weekly cable shows are at the greatest risk. During the last writer strikes, the producers turned to unscripted content, leading the creation of the reality show Cops and even The Celebrity Apprentice.

The Directors Guild and Screen Actors Guild are also in negotiations, with contracts set to expire at the end of June.

By Lou K Coleman

Then suddenly, after all the warnings, a day will dawn that will start like any other day, but before that day is over, you will be face to face with God. Are you ready for that day? For, in one day, in one hour, God’s judgment will fall. [Revelation 18:8, 10, 17, 19].

For many people this will be the saddest day ever because they did not prepare themselves for this day. They did not repent, were not baptized, and did not accept Jesus as their personal savior. They will be likened to the “Five Foolish Virgins” of [Matthew 25:1-10] that failed to prepare their lamps before the Bridegroom came and missed out on the wedding feast. What Tragedy! The smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever. And they have no rest day nor night. [Revelation 14:11].

Listen, as God through Pilate gave Israel one last chance before consigning the nation to perpetual judgment. [John 19:8-16] He is giving you one last chance to repent.  The parable’s lesson in [Luke chapter 13] is that mercy and grace are available to all who will come to Christ IN TIME. Because eventually time runs out. [Hebrews 9:27]. This message is an urgent call for you to use the second chance wisely.

Understand that it is only the forbearance of God that stands between you and eternal damnation. You are living on borrowed time. Opportunity to repent does not last forever. For He said to the vineyard-keeper, “Behold, for three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down! [Luke 13:7].

I want you to know that in life there are windows of opportunity. Once those windows close, opportunities are gone.  God’s patience won’t last forever.  The window is closing. The opportunity is passing. Seek the Lord while He may be found. Call on Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man his thought, let him return to the Lord and He will have compassion on him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” [Isaiah 55:6-7].

Consider today with some urgency your eternal life. Tomorrow is not promised. Learn the lesson of the Ten Virgins [Matthew 25:1]. The Foolish were not in the bridal procession and they hadn’t been in the closed-door celebration. Why will you die? Repent and live! Give, your life to Jesus NOW! Don’t delay! For I declares says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of anyone. [Ezekiel 18:30].

I tell you; your whole life is about to change. Get under the Almighty wings for cover. For NOW, is the Appointed Time. NOW is the Day of Salvation! [2 Corinthians 6:2]. Do not wait! Do not postpone the matter any longer! “Seek ye the Lord while He may be found; call ye upon Him while He is near” [Isaiah 55:6].

Repent and Live! The clock is ticking down from God’s Two-Minute Warning and the window to change is closing. Don’t be another Belshazzar who waited until it was too late! Only if he’d repented, God probably would have spared his life. God spared the King of Nineveh, which had 40 days till destruction; God spared King Manasseh who had done the most terrible things of anyone in the Old Testament! But Belshazzar went on in arrogance with his charade and died that night. [Daniel 5:1-30]. Don’t you do it! Repent and live! For the judgment of God is serious business.

We’ve Been Warned! – 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2…!

By Tanu Henry and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Last week was Black Health Advocacy Week and Secretary of State Dr. Shirley Weber delivered the keynote speech at the California Black Health Network’s (CBHN) 40th anniversary celebration in Sacramento.

“When you talk about health issues and the challenge of health, we are a large portion of that issue. So, it becomes important that we raise our voice and don’t just be quiet when these things happen because they have impact on the future,” said Weber at the event.

CBHN is an organization that is dedicated to “advancing health equity for Black and Brown communities” in California.

Last month, Assemblymember Dr. Akilah Weber (D-La Mesa) introduced Assembly Resolution (ACR) 53 to establish last week as Black Health Advocacy week.

“This measure would recognize May 1, 2023, to May 5, 2023, inclusive, and every first week of May thereafter, as Black Health Equity Advocacy Week, and commend the California Black Health Network and other organizations throughout the state for their efforts to improve the health, well-being, and life expectancy of Black Californians,” the resolution language reads.