WSSN Stories

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

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) and the College Board brought together educators, students, and lawmakers at the State Capitol to celebrate the progress of the Advanced Placement African American Studies program.

The AP African American Studies program is available to 117 schools across the state and is implemented in 42 states nationwide. It was launched nationally in the Fall of 2024 and over 500 colleges and universities now provide college credit for it.

Sen. Akilah Weber-Pierson, the chair of the CLBC, stated that Black lawmakers are “committed to expanding its reach” to all high schools in the state to ensure “every student has the opportunity to engage with African American history in a meaningful way.”

“We are thrilled to be able to celebrate the success and impact of the AP African American Studies course in California high schools,” stated Weber-Pierson. “The success of this course is a testament to the power of representation in education. We are committed”

A not-for-profit organization founded more than 120 years ago, the College Board reaches over seven million students a year, helping them navigate their journey from high school to college and into their professional careers.

AP African American Studies provides students with the opportunity to explore the history, culture, and literature of African Americans and the larger African diaspora.

The special occasion at the State Capitol included AP students and educators who have taught AP courses in California since the program’s inception three years ago. It also combined an informational session about the program with a tribute to Black History Month.

A news conference was held to share the success of the program and talk about opportunities to expand access to the AP African American Studies’ course in more high schools in California.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson) shared their thoughts as a new ethnic studies requirement goes into effect this fall.

“We know that when people learn about themselves – we all do better,” Thurmond said at the gathering. “The other thing is that an inclusive education benefits everyone of all backgrounds.”

The AP Program is designed to academically prepare students to seek out college-level studies — with the freedom to attain college credit, advanced placement, or both — while attending high school.

Tony Green, an AP African American Studies instructor at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland told California Black Media (CBM) that he and Susan Miller Dorsey High School teacher Donald Singleton have been teaching the course since the California pilot program began in 2022 and have been College Board advocates for over three decades.

“We (Singleton and Green) are among the original 60 AP professors. I have 94 students in my AP class consisting of 11th and 12th grade students,” Green said. “We are in year four (of the AP African American Studies course) where I teach three classes.”

Through AP courses in 40 subjects, each culminating in a rigorous exam, students learn to think critically, construct solid arguments, and see many sides of an issue — skills that prepare them for college and beyond.

“The benefits are profound,” Singleton said of AP courses and the AP African American Studies program. “It equips students with critical thinking skills by having them examine intersectionality, resistance, and resilience.”

Singleton continued by adding “Also, young people have to learn how to make choices by examining their past.”

The AP program began at the start of the 2022-2023 school year with 60 pilot schools across the country. It has now expanded to about 700 schools in the United States. The pilot students took the first AP African American Studies exam in the Spring of 2024.

The course will be available to all students in the United States in Spring 2025.  According to College Board, over 200 colleges and universities have signed on to provide college credit.

“The introduction of the AP African American Studies class is a major step in strengthening and inclusion in our community,” Gipson said. “This course provides students with a comprehensive understanding of African American culture, history, and contributions African Americans have made in our country and state of California.”

London Walker, a junior at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland shared her experiences, explaining that the AP classes have been effective for her, presenting challenges to achieve success and providing a strong foundation in African American history.

Walker, who calls herself “a law fanatic who watches Columbo,” is a lead closing attorney of Bishop O’Dowd’s Mock Trial Team. She aspires to be a criminal defense attorney and has already interned at the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.

Through AP courses, Green said she and other students study cases that not only concern the United States Supreme Court but how they affect the people who disagree with the structure of the court system.

The AP African American Studies program is beneficial in the legal field because it encourages critical thinking. “It’s more than just a class,” Walker said.

“It’s important to know that AP African American Studies is not just an ethnic study class,” Walker said. “It’s a STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) class, history class, and music program. It’s about culture, about connection, and about making change.”

By Dr. Wilmer J. Leon, III

“I don’t know who you are and I don’t know why you like this guy (Trump). I think what you like about him; he appears to be strong and the rest of us are weak… That’s what he’s selling…Here’s what you’re buying…He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot. He doesn’t represent my party. He doesn’t represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for… He’s the ISIL man of the year.” Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on CNN 2015

There are periods in history… epochs, distinctive periods in time marked by notable events, that in many instances signal change. Columbus stumbling upon the Americas where Indigenous peoples had been living for thousands of years. The French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the invention of the semiconductor, WWII, the Civil Rights era, etc.

In many instances, one may not realize that they’re living in the historic moment. It’s only upon reflection that you realize the significance of the time. There are other periods, I call them Oppenheimer moments, where you know that you are in the moment. The first atomic bomb was tested on July 16, 1945. The bomb, nicknamed “Gadget”, released 18.6 kilotons of power. We are told that Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, upon watching the first ever atomic bomb explode, quoted a line from Hindu scripture; the Bhagavad Gita, “Now I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds”. Oppenheimer knew he was in the moment.

As we look at the current geopolitical landscape, we find ourselves firmly in the grips of the second Trump administration. There is a dramatic decline in the status of America, both domestically and internationally. The economic outlook is uncertain. America is funding a war in Ukraine and a genocide in Gaza. Homelessness, unemployment and incarceration rates are continuously on the rise. One can only conclude that we are living in a historic moment. Steve Bannon, the former Trump campaign and White House advisor calls it “managed decline”.

One of the ironies in all of this is we have seen this movie before. We are watching Trump Redux. We are not just watching the film; we are actors in it. For those of us that are old enough to remember, watching the news and political programs today is analogous to watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show. We find ourselves constantly yelling at the screen, except this is unscripted.

People are aghast listening to President Trump attack DEI policies, firing federal Inspectors General, threatening to close the Department of Education and pledging to fire FBI agents that investigated January 6. Steve Bannon told us in 2019 of what was to come, “…we had a whole tiger team of the White House counsel guys, the ‘deconstruction of the administrative state,’ which is a huge element…we want less (government intervention). In fact, we want to start to take apart certain parts of the apparatus.” America, you were warned.

Now, the authoritarian that over 77M Americans voted for wants to disregard the constitutionally guaranteed right of “birthright citizenship”. He is impounding funds, freezing nearly all foreign aid, federal grants and loans as if he has been magically granted the power of the “ex post facto veto”.

Almost none of President Trump’s policies have gone through legislation or House votes.  Trump issues his edicts through Executive Order. The American people are being subjected to a flurry or whirlwind of executive action. Bannon called it “flooding the zone and muzzle velocity”. “Every day we hit them with three things. They’ll bite on one, and we’ll get all of our stuff done, bang, bang, bang. These guys will never—will never be able to recover. But we’ve got to start with muzzle velocity.” Some people may think Trump is crazy. If he is, he’s crazy like a fox.

But it’s not just him. President Trump is not alone. The racist suggestion of Trump saying, the United States should own Gaza and develop it into “the Riviera of the Middle East” by displacing the Palestinians from their homeland to other countries in the region, was first posited by former President Joe Biden. The AP reported, “A Western diplomat in Cairo said Egypt rejected similar proposals from the Biden administration and European countries early in the war.” Trump’s major faux pas was he made Biden’s secret proposal public.

Trump is not alone in his racist deportation efforts. CNN reported, “According to an analysis by the Migration Policy Institute, more than 12 million people were “deported” – either removed or returned – from the US during the Clinton administration. More than 10 million were removed or returned during the Bush administration. Far fewer – more than 5 million – were removed or returned during the Obama administration.” Lest we forget, President Obama was dubbed the “Deporter in Chief”.

Trump’s ideas of deconstructing the administrative state, cutting government agencies or his privatization/neo-liberal policies via Project 2025 are not new. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich proposed similar tactics with his “Contract with America”. Former President Bill Clinton thought he could make government more efficient by employing principals from the private sector by “Reinventing Government as We Know It”.

The major problem with these schemes is very simple. The goal of private sector capitalism is the maximization of profit. The goal of democratic/republic government is the protection of the people and the delivery of services. Contrary to the beliefs of the oligarchs, government is not in the “business” of making money. It’s lucky if it breaks even.

Don’t let this context confuse you. Sen. Graham is correct, President Trump is “…a race-baiting, xenophobic religious bigot.” This is evidenced by his baseless rants about Mexican rapists, his proposed Muslim ban, his lie about Barack Obama’s birthplace, his attack on the Central Park 5, his baseless attack on DEI programs, removing historical videos of its storied Black Tuskegee Airmen from Air Force training modules, supporting genocide in Gaza, just to name a few. Remember, all of this resonated with over 77M Americans.

So, what are we to do? Well, for starters do not listen to Rep. Nancy Pelosi. Anyone who tries to insist that the election was not a rebuke of the Democrats is delusional and anyone who argues that Democrats don’t need to change is clueless.

I strongly suggest reading Dr. King’s 1963 Letter from a Birmingham Jail, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Then read Frederick Douglas’, 1857 speech, If There Is No Struggle, There Is No Progress –“Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

After that, read more and remember, when they tell you about their own, they are also telling you about themselves. Believe them.

Dr. Wilmer Leon is a nationally broadcast radio talk-show host. Author of Politics Another Perspective. Host of the podcast Connecting the Dots w/ Dr. Wilmer Leon. Go to www.wilmerleon.com or email: wjl3us@yahoo.com. www.twitter.com/drwleon and Dr. Leon’s Prescription at Facebook.com © 2025 InfoWave Communications, LLC

By Solomon O. Smith | California Black Media

In recent months, the Beverly Hills Police Department (BHPD) and Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) have been hit with two lawsuits and numerous reports alleging racist incidents targeting Black residents.

Last November, a formal complaint was filed on behalf of several students and two teachers — Bella Ivory and an anonymous complainant — against Beverly Hills High School. Attorneys Bradley C. Gage and Benjamin Crump are representing the plaintiffs.

The complaint details incidents of harassment, retaliation and violence targeting Black students, according to Gage. Some Latino students had been the victim of racial slurs and are also considering a suit.

In a video Gage shared with the press that was recorded on Election Day White students can be seen marching through the school’s halls celebrating the election of Trump while waving a Trump flag. They pounded on a classroom door in the video. Behind the door were Ivory and several Black students. During a press conference in January, Ivory described how she and Black students felt during that experience.

“The profanity aimed towards our vice president, who is part Black,” said Ivory referring to Kamala Harris, “combined with students congregating outside of my classroom, increased my fears and also the fears of those students that were locked inside that room with me.”

Another video shows feces on the floor of a bathroom and graffiti reading “I hate ni**ers.” There is also a TikTok video describing a cafeteria as dirty while showing Black students having lunch.

“So, we have had for a number of years now, children at Beverly Hills High School, who claim they have been called racial slurs, had monkey sounds made at them, and around them, been threatened with violence and actually received violence,” said Gage.

Gage told California Black Media (CBM) that he interviewed alumni going back at least 10 years, many of whom were willing to go on the record about racist incidents and the school’s inability to deal with them. In another instance parents and students complained about the use of a “ni**er card,” a card White students claimed to have purchased from Black students allowing them to freely use the epithet.

“They have what’s called as an N-word pass. And what they’re doing with that is students will give either $50 or $100 to Black students,” said Gage. “They’ll pay them on Apple Pay. Then they get an “N-word pass, and start using the “N-word around some other Black kids.”

These new cases are not the only ones brought against the city of Beverly Hills based on discrimination or racism. The second set of major suits was filed against the BHPD in January. The class action suit claims there have been a thousand instances of racial profiling by police.

“There are now 1,085 identified putative class members in the first lawsuit which is awaiting a ruling by the court on class certification,” reads a press release from Brad Gage, APC, the law firm representing the plaintiffs.

“There is also a second, class action for continuing acts of racial profiling,” the statement continues.

CBM contacted the city of Beverly Hills for comment, but a spokesperson referred us to archived statements on their website.

Michael Bregy, BHUSD’s superintendent put out a statement refuting the complaints against the school district.

“We do not have evidence that suggests that there was racism at the recent spirited demonstrations,” wrote Bregy. “However, BHUSD has implemented proactive measures to ensure that any concerns related to racism and antisemitism – perceived or real – are addressed promptly and effectively.”

Bregy wrote that the district is planning to work on “empathy” programs with groups like the NAACP.

The city also released a statement about the allegations of police profiling in November when the first complaint was announced.

“The role of the Beverly Hills Police Department is to enforce the law, regardless of race.   The statistics presented referencing the number of convictions is a mischaracterization of the evidence in this case,” reads the statement.  “In addition, the 1,088 arrests referenced includes people cited and released, not just custodial arrests. The city denies and will continue to strongly defend itself against these allegations.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the percentage of White residents is about 75%, while Black residents make up only 1.9% of Beverly Hills. With the installment of the Trump administration there is concern that incidents of violence against minorities will become commonplace and that the federal and local courts may be less inclined to provide relief.

Gage has filed and won discrimination charges against Beverly Hills in the past, and Crump has handled some of the most controversial racial bias cases in the country, including representing the families of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor who were both killed in incidents involving police officers.

Gage is concerned about the future of discrimination cases.

“It’s very serious. It’s very violent. It’s escalating on a daily basis,” said Gage. “And I feel concerned with the way that our country is going right now, where ordinary individuals seem emboldened to say and do things that never would have been acceptable, even six months ago or three months ago,” said Gage.

By Bo Tefu | California Black Media

A lawsuit filed in federal court accuses the University of California (UC) of racial discrimination in undergraduate admissions, alleging that Black and Latino students are favored over Asian American and White applicants. The lawsuit, filed by the group Students Against Racial Discrimination, claims UC’s admissions policies violate Proposition 209, a state law passed in 1996 that prohibits the consideration of race in public education.

The lawsuit also alleges UC is violating the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which bars racial discrimination by federally funded institutions.

In response, UC stated that race is not a factor in admissions, as per state law, and that student demographic data is collected only for statistical purposes.

Stett Holbrook, a spokesperson for the UC system, said the entity had not been served with the lawsuit.

“If served, we will vigorously defend our admission practices,” said Holbrook.

“We believe this to be a meritless suit that seeks to distract us from our mission to provide California students with a world class education,” he said.

The complaint criticizes UC’s use of a “holistic” admissions process, arguing it replaces objective academic criteria with subjective considerations that disadvantage certain racial groups. It cites admission rate disparities at UC Berkeley, noting a decrease in Black student admissions from 13% in 2010 to 10% in 2023, compared to an overall drop from 21% to 12%.

The lawsuit follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling banning affirmative action in college admissions, which has prompted challenges to race-conscious policies nationwide. The plaintiffs seek a court order preventing UC from collecting racial data in applications and request a federal monitor to oversee admissions decisions.

By Lou K. Coleman | WSS News Contributor

Come near, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you, people. Let the earth hear, and all that is in it, the world, and all that comes out of it! I want to tell you what the future holds. [Isaiah 24:1-17].

A great demonic flood is descending upon humankind. The devil knows his time is short, and he is preparing to unleash overwhelming winds and waves of evil. [Revelation12:12]. He is about to bring a fierce downpour of filth, wickedness, and testing beyond anything your mind can conjure. He is going to use his millions of evil spirits in an effort to subdue the whole earth to his complete control by tyranny, oppression, cruelty, violence and agonizing torments to a degree the world has never known. Producing unparalleled suffering for the people of earth. But above it all will be the hand of God, permitting Satan this freedom, guiding every detail to the accomplishment of His purposes: the ultimate defeat of Satan, the destruction of sin, the establishment of His kingdom of righteousness and peace, and the release of creation from its bondage to corruption.

As often as it passes through, it will carry you away; it will sweep through morning after morning, by day and by night. But those who believe will enter into eternal life, and those who do not will enter into eternal punishment. [Matthew 24:13; Matthew 25:31–46].

Stunned by Jesus prophecy, the disciples ask Him, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” [Matthew 24:3].

Jesus responds with a detailed discourse, known as the Olivet Discourse, which covers the events leading up to His second coming. [Isaiah 24].

He warns them about: False Messiahs and False Prophets ? Wars and Rumors of Wars ? Famines, Pestilences, and Earthquakes ? Persecution and Betrayal of Believers ? The Abomination of Desolation ? The Great Tribulation. [Matthew 24:4-14; Daniel 9:27].

The Olivet Discourse ends with Jesus telling His disciples about the final judgment at the end of the Tribulation and to be vigilant and discerning. [Revelation, Chapters 8 to 11].

God mercifully keeps saying, “Turn ye, turn ye, why will you die?” The first woe is passed. Behold, two woes are still coming after these things. [Revelation 9:12; Isaiah 34: 1-17].

Repent, and get under the Umbrella of the Almighty God NOW before it is too late!

Yet once, it is a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and the dry land; and I will shake all nations. All the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground, and I will be known in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I AM THE LORD. The only unshakeable power. [Ezekiel 38:20-23; Joel 3:16; Haggai 2:6-7; Hebrews 12:26-27].

To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me?

All this wrath to come. All this torment.  You would think that men would repent of their sins and turn to God, but the Scripture says they won’t. Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. Their consequences are just exactly what Satan intended them to be. They resisted God. They turned their back on God. They did not honor God. The word of the Lord has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. What a picture of the utter depravity and degradation of the human heart. Wrath and judgment break loose, but men will not repent.

What sorrow awaits my rebellious children, says the Lord. [Isaiah 30:1].

This is a warning from the mouth of Almighty God — and its fulfillment is found throughout the Bible. Already you see signs of such calamity in America. [Ezekiel 33]. The enemy is already at the gate!

Then I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, “Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates.” [Revelation 9:13-21].

So, the four angels, who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, were released to kill a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them. And thus, I saw the horses in the vision: those who sat on them had breastplates of fiery red, hyacinth blue, and sulfur yellow; and the heads of the horses were like the heads of lions; and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and brimstone. By these three plagues a third of mankind was killed — by the fire and the smoke and the brimstone which came out of their mouths.

Father, we thank you for the warning that we’ve received of what is to come. I pray that we will tremble with it, that we would take it seriously. I pray that it would bring us to tears as Jesus wept over Jerusalem. I pray that we will be deeply troubled by the concept of just the bloodshed that is coming and repent while there is still a time of grace. In Jesus Name. Amen!

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) has introduced two bills in the State Senate that could lower prescription drug prices for California residents.

Senate Bill (SB) 40, or the Insulin Affordability Act — and accompanying legislation, SB 41, or Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Reform — comprise Wiener’s Prescription Drug Affordability (PDA) Package.

Together, the bills would cap monthly co-pays for insulin at $35 (SB 40) and create regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) whose negotiation practices, critics say, have resulted in steep price increases for prescription drugs (SB 41).

“It makes no sense that people with diabetes in states like West Virginia can access affordable insulin while Californians are stuck with higher prices,” said Wiener in a statement.

“When basic life necessities like medication become unaffordable in Blue States, working people pay the price. As Democrats, we should be leading on making people’s lives better and more affordable,” continued Weiner. It is past time California caught up with other states and put basic protections in place to contain the astronomical cost of basic medications.”

SB 40’s proposed $35 monthly co-pay was written, in part, in response to the price of insulin tripling over the past decade, Wiener’s office says. As a result of the increase, one in four people using insulin has reported insulin underuse because they can’t afford the full dose. Four in five Americans in need of insulin have incurred thousands of dollars in credit card debt to pay for the medication, according to a recent survey conducted by CharityRx.

About 4,037,000 adult Californians have diabetes, with an additional 263,000 cases of Type 1diabetes diagnosed each year. This rate in new cases disproportionately affects the elderly, men, and low-income patients, Wiener’s office reports.

Christine Fallabel, regional director of state government affairs and advocacy with the American Diabetes Association (ADA), a sponsor of SB 40, said, “The ADA has long led the fight to make insulin more affordable, and there has been significant progress. We look forward to building on the momentum across the country to extend the $35 per month insulin cap to include people with state-regulated health plans in California. No one should have to skip their lifesaving insulin due to costs alone.”

According to Wiener, SB 41 is his follow-up to similar legislation he introduced last year, SB 966, which was vetoed by Gov. Newsom.

Middlemen in the pharmaceutical industry, PBMs buy prescription drugs from manufacturers and then sell them to pharmacies and health plans. Their position as intermediaries allows them to charge high administrative fees and significantly higher prices for drugs to pharmacies than they paid originally. This practice results in higher costs for patients seeking the prescriptions they need.

“On behalf of the Californians we serve who live with chronic and rare diseases, we are grateful to Sen. Wiener for his commitment and attempt to hold pharmacy middlemen accountable for their anti-patient and anti-pharmacy practices,” stated Liz Helms, California Chronic Care Coalition President & CEO.  “Health care costs continue to rise when patients cannot afford medically necessary medications. We are committed to bringing transparency and oversight to PBMs, and look forward to continuing our work with Senator Wiener, our advocacy partners, and welcome others to join us in this fight.”

SB 41 proposes that all PBMs be licensed and that they disclose basic information regarding their business practices to the licensing entity. It also calls for a number of other requirements and prohibitions, including limiting how fees may be charged and requiring transparency related to all fees assessed.

“This bill addresses some of the worst abuses by pharmacy benefit managers: lack of transparency, unfair business practices, steering, and price gouging,” said Jamie Court, President of Consumer Watchdog. “Increasingly what is best for PBMs is not best for patients or the health care system.”

In 2022, drug spending in California grew by 12%, while total health premiums rose by just 4%. Last year, more than half of Californians either skipped or postponed mental and physical healthcare due to cost, putting their safety and well-being at risk. One in three reported holding medical debt, including half of low-income Californians.

So far, there is no organized opposition to the Prescription Drug Affordability package.

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

Two former members of the California Task Force to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans shared some of their experiences developing a 1,075-page report that detailed injustices suffered by African Americans during and after chattel slavery.

Los Angeles-based clinical psychologist Dr. Cheryl Grills and Bay Area-based attorney Don Tamaki, who were part of the nine-member reparations panel spoke at the “Justice Through Action: Black Reparations-Reparative Justice” event hosted by local chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) in Sacramento on Feb. 8.

The event was held at the California Museum.

“The first impact that the overall report had on me is that it gave me a panoramic view and it was a panoramic view of the elephant in the room,” Grills, who attended the event virtually, told the audience.

“The way America teaches about our history, American history, gives us little snippets and little pieces. It’s definitely watered down,” Grills added.

However, Grills said the report the task force compiled presented a version of the Black experience in America that was not diluted.

“You could see the totality of the elephant,” she said. “The report gives you the fullness and density of the elephant, which was, at the same time, validating, overwhelming, and painful.”

The final reparations report was submitted to Gov. Gavin Newsom and the legislature on June 29, 2023, after the task force completed a two-year study that proposed a comprehensive reparations plan.

Assembly Bill (AB) 3121 authored by then-Assemblymember Shirley Weber and enacted on Sep. 30, 2020, established the state’s reparations task force.

“California has historically led the country on civil rights, yet we have not come to terms with our state’s ugly past that allowed slaveholding within our borders and returned escaped slaves to their masters,” stated Weber, who is now Secretary of State.

The JACL is the nation’s oldest and largest Asian American-Pacific Islander Civil Rights Organization. It is focused on securing and safeguarding the civil and human rights of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) and all communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry.

The JACL presentation was hosted to observe the 83rd anniversary of Executive Order 9066, which led to the incarceration of 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II.

That panel was part of the Northern California Time of Remembrance (NCTOR) committee’s Annual Day of Remembrance program organized in partnership with the California Museum.

Tamaki, who is Japanese American and the only non-Black member of the task force, said the Black and Japanese experiences in America have some parallels but there are significant differences as well.

“When you look at reparations, and this was the eye opener to me, it’s actually a unifying concept,” Tamaki said. “There’s no equivalence between four years in a concentration camp that our community experienced and 400 years of oppression.”

Tamaki explained, “We do have some things in common. Japanese know something about mass incarceration and profiling and the consequences. In that respect, there is a reason for all of us, whatever our background, to start looking at (reparations). We have to cure the body and not just put a band-aid on it.”

Grills is a clinical psychologist whose work focuses on community psychology. A Professor of Psychology at Loyola Marymount University, she us also a past president of the Association of Black Psychologists.

Tamaki is a senior counsel at Minami Tamaki LLP.  He has spent decades working with AAPI legal services programs. In the 1980s, he participated in the Japanese American reparations movement and served on the pro bono legal team that reopened the landmark 1944 Supreme Court case of Fred Korematsu.

The case resulted in overturning Korematsu’s criminal conviction for violating the incarceration order that led to the imprisonment of 125,000 Japanese Americans after the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Tamaki was the lone non-Black member of the nine-member Reparations Task Force.

At the 2025 NCTOR event, presented by local chapters of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), several Japanese, Jewish and other non-Black groups in California conveyed their support for reparations for Black American residents of the state who are descendants of enslaved people.

Earnest Uwazie, a Sacramento State University criminal justice professor and director of the Center for African Peace and Conflict Resolution, was one of more than 100 persons who listened to the two-hour discussion.

“I thought the event was great,” said Uwazie. “It’s always great to hear from the people involved in the study of reparations and it is good to get a comparative with the Japanese experience. This was extremely informative.”

By Kellie Todd Griffin | Special to California Black Media?? 

We are standing at a crossroads –where our history meets our future. And in this moment, we must ask ourselves: What would our ancestors do?

Over the last six months, we’ve watched companies quietly step away from their commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). And that has left many of us with a hard choice to make because — let’s be real –letting go of our conveniences isn’t easy. But we have never been a people who choose what’s easy over what’s right. Our legacy is built on struggle, on sacrifice, on knowing that real progress doesn’t come without real work.

Almost 70 years ago, the Montgomery Bus Boycott showed us exactly what that work looks like. It wasn’t just about Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat. It was about an entire community coming together — pastors, first ladies, labor leaders, business owners, everyday folks — who said, “Enough.” For 13 months, they walked instead of riding the bus. They organized carpools. They sacrificed their safety, their comfort, and their livelihoods to take a stand. And they won.

That boycott didn’t just desegregate buses. It showed the world the power of Black economic resistance. It hit the city’s transit system where it hurt, forcing real change. And when insurance companies tried to shut them down, they found a way. When taxi drivers were threatened for supporting the movement, they kept going. When the world told them no, they answered with action.

And we’ve seen that same power time and again. In the 1980s, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Operation PUSH took on Coca-Cola, demanding that the company invest in Black businesses and communities. After just one month of organized pressure, Coca-Cola agreed to funnel millions of dollars into Black-owned enterprises, expand diversity in its workforce, and increase Black representation at the decision-making table.

In the 1990s, Jackson and Glenda Gill did it again — this time with the auto industry. They pushed Japanese car manufacturers to invest in Black suppliers, dealers, and employees, securing $7.2 billion in diversity initiatives from Toyota alone.

These movements teach us something critical: Boycotts work. Economic action drives systemic change. But let’s be clear: change requires sacrifice. There will be Black- owned businesses caught in the crossfire. Some will lose shelf space. Some may struggle. And that is a real and difficult truth. But history shows us that without real commitments to equity, they’ll be left behind anyway.

Montgomery wasn’t just about civil rights. It was an economic battle. And for a moment, we built something incredible — a fully functioning Black-owned transit system. But when the buses were integrated, that system disappeared. And that should make us think.

Many Black entrepreneurs today are building businesses out of necessity. They see a need in the market, and they fill it — not just for profit, but for us. And if they can trust us to support them, then we have to demand more from the places that only see us as consumers.

Last fall, Walmart announced it would no longer focus on DEI, choosing instead to talk about “belonging.” And yet, just weeks later, they rolled out holiday commercials featuring Lorenz Tate, Nia Long and Busta Rhymes –images carefully designed to speak to us, to our culture, to our spending power.

And our spending power is undeniable. Black consumers make up 10% of Walmart’s sales, 8.9% of Target’s. Our economic clout reached $1.6 trillion in 2020. And it’s only growing.

Our dollar matters. But this moment isn’t about money. It’s about power. It’s about whether we’re willing to step outside our comfort zones, to punch above our weight class just like our ancestors did. Because our fight has never been about today. It has always been about tomorrow.

So, the question is: What kind of future are we willing to build? And what are we willing to sacrifice to get there?

Let’s make this happen.

About the Author

Kellie Todd Griffin is the President & CEO of the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute. With a deep commitment to equity and justice, she champions initiatives that amplify the voices and influence of Black women across California. Known for her strategic insight and passion for community empowerment, Kellie is a driving force in fostering systemic change and collective progress.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The firestorms that ravaged Southern California have drawn attention to historically Black communities like Altadena, one of the first areas in Los Angeles County where Black families could buy homes during the Great Migration.

Before the fire, Altadena’s Black population was 18% with a Black homeownership rate of nearly 81% — more than the double the state rate of about 36.6%.

For Black History Month, California Black Media explores 14 other historically Black neighborhoods that thrived in the Golden State despite numerous challenges.

Note: This is not a comprehensive list.

1. Allensworth (Tulare County) – Founded in 1908 by Colonel Allen Allensworth and four other Black settlers, Allensworth was California’s first and only town established and governed by African However, Allensworth’s livelihood depended on a railroad company and water supply company. Eventually, the railroad company stopped service to the town and the water company cut off the town’s water supply, leading most residents to relocate. Many of the town’s original buildings have been restored.
2. North Richmond (Contra Costa County) – Developed during World War II, North Richmond attracted Black workers to Kaiser Shipyards. One of the first downtown Black owned businesses was O.B. Freeman’s Shoeshine on Macdonald Avenue which became a popular gathering place for Black motor-bikers.
3. Oak Park (Sacramento County) – One of Sacramento’s oldest Black neighborhoods, Oak Park grew due to the lack of racial covenants that restricted Black land ownership during the Great Depression. It became a hub of Black culture and entrepreneurship. For example, renowned culinary artist George Dunlap opened a string of restaurants in the area, including Dunlap’s Dining Room, known for its Southern cooking.
4. West Oakland (Alameda County) – A major center for Black migration during WWII, known for its jazz scene and civil rights activism. The neighborhood was home to the Black Panther Party headquarters and a center of Black commerce and entertainment in the 1940s and 1950s. Seventh Street served as the cultural hub of the area and was lined with Black-owned businesses, including Slim Jenkin’s Place, one of the most popular jazz clubs in the area attracting big names like B.B King, Miles Davis, and Duke Ellington.
5. South Berkeley (Alameda County) –Black families moved to South Berkeley during the Great Migration for jobs at shipyards and railroad companies. In 1948, William Byron Rumford Sr. became the first African American elected to a state public office when he won an Assembly seat. Rumford owned a pharmacy on Sacramento Street, which was a hub for the Black community.
6. Bayview-Hunters Point (San Francisco County) – During WWII, the establishment of Hunters Point Naval Shipyard attracted an influx of African American workers. Around that time, 59% of the neighborhood’s population was The area, which has a rich history of activism, remains the neighborhood with the highest concentration of Black San Franciscans.
7. Seaside (Monterey County) – The presence of the Black community in this area grew significantly due to the presence of Fort Ord, a U.S. Army base. By the 1960’s, Seaside had the largest concentration of American Americans between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Over a quarter of Seaside’s population was Black at the time.
8. Watts (Los Angeles County) – Famous for the Watts Towers, the city became a significant hub for Black cultural and political movements. Watts became predominantly Black in the 1940s. War industries were a primary source of employment for new workers coming into Watts. The neighborhood is also known for the Watts Uprising, a series of protests in 1965 mainly opposing police
9. Ladera Heights, View Park and Baldwin Hills (Los Angeles County) – These adjacent neighborhoods are considered some of the wealthiest historically Black communities in the S. African Americans were not allowed to live in the area until 1948 when the Supreme Court ruled against racial restrictive covenants. By 1970, residents of the area were 75% Black. Celebrities including Ray Charles, Tina Turner, Nancy Wilson, Michael Cooper, Regina King and Issa Rae have called the area home. Ladera Heights, View Park and Baldwin Hills are often referred to the “Black Beverly Hills.”
10. Leimert Park (Los Angeles County) – A cultural and artistic center for African Americans, Leimert Park is known for its jazz heritage and Black-owned businesses. The area is home to one of the largest and oldest Juneteenth celebrations in the country.
11. Inglewood (Los Angeles County) – In 1960, only 29 of Inglewood’s population of 63,390 were Black. But by 1980, 56% of the city’s population was Black. “White Flight” from the area during the 1970s sparked the influx of Black residents. In 1983, Edward Vincent Jr. Became Inglewood’s first Black mayor. Inglewood has become a sports and entertainment hub under current mayor James Butts.
12. Southeast San Diego (San Diego County County) – The area is home to Bethel AME Church, the oldest Black church in San Diego, founded in 1887. Before gentrification and redevelopment began to intensify — beginning in the 1970s through the 2000s — the Imperial Avenue Corridor was known as a mini “Black Wall Street.”
13. The Fillmore District (San Francisco County) – Known as the “Harlem of the West,” the Fillmore community in San Francisco became a hub for Black businesses and art after World War II. Many Blacks migrated to the area because it was one of the areas in the city without a racist housing covenant. The Fillmore was renowned for its jazz scene, with famous clubs like Jimbo’s Bop city.
14. Compton (Los Angeles County) – In 1960, Compton’s Black population was 40%, a figure that was around 5% ten years prior. The rise in the area’s Black population was due, in part, to a real estate tactic called “Blockbusting” where real estate agents would induce White homeowners to sell their properties at reduced prices by suggesting Black families were moving into the neighborhood. Then, those agents would sell those homes to Black families at higher prices. In 1969, Compton elected Douglas Dollarhide, the first Black mayor of a major California city.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL— Talk show host Tamron Hall kicked off Black History Month at Walt Disney World Resort on Saturday by leading her family on a festive day of Disney fun along with “Celebrate Soulfully” offerings, culminated by a jubilant parade at Magic Kingdom Park.

Hall, known for her work as a TV talk show host, journalist and author, served as the grand marshal in the parade down Main Street, U.S.A., that featured Disney characters, energetic music and cheering guests.

Hall and her family also experienced the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train attraction, met Princess Tiana and posed for photos with Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Goofy and Pluto, as well as Disney cast members.

The parade marked the start of Black History Month celebrations at Walt Disney World, where guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” with a vibrant mix of music, art, entertainment and food throughout February and beyond.

• Four Black artists are showcasing their work this month at the EPCOT International Festival of the Arts, a celebration of artistic expression. The artists appear on various days through mid-February. Also, several Black artists are performing onstage at America Gardens Theatre during the DISNEY ON BROADWAY Concert Series on select nights during the festival.
• The Disney Springs Art Walk features colorful murals by Black artists that celebrate Black culture and expression, including a new mural by Washington D.C. – based artist Brandon Hill that debuts this month.
• Throughout Walt Disney World, there are food and beverage items from Walt Disney World’s “Celebrate Soulfully” menu, which feature classic comfort foods prepared by a diverse group of Walt Disney World chefs, such as blackened salmon and peach cobbler.
• And guests can always interact with a variety of popular and diverse Disney characters, such as Princess Tiana at Magic Kingdom, Ariel from the live-action story “The Little Mermaid” at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Asha at EPCOT.

Like Hall, guests can “Celebrate Soulfully” throughout the month and all year long through a wide variety of ticket, dining, and hotel options as well as promotional offers for families. More information is available at www.DisneyWorld.com/offers.