Mary Nichols, an influential California attorney known and respected in environmental policy circles across the United States, is finding herself at the center of racial storm brewing at home.
Black employees say racism is widespread at the California Air Resources Board (CARB), the organization Nichols chairs.
In September, African American employees hit CARB with a 13-page letter alleging that they have been experiencing racism – widespread, routine and systemic, they point out – at the air-pollution and climate agency.?
The “Concerned Black Employees at CARB (CBE CARB),” the Black group that submitted the letter, says its members have been the target of cynical comments at the organization and that they have been excluded from promotions, and have had to face other atrocities because of the color of their skin.
The letter details discriminatory hiring practices, incidents of intimidation, low representation of Black employees, and a general lack of support. CARB, the letter alleges, has a total of 1627 employees and only 73 of them are Black. Only one African American has held an executive position with the organization.
“You will find a compilation of Black stories about our experiences at CARB along with messages we received from those experiences,” CBE CARB stated in the introduction of the document. Although these stories are first person accounts of experiences, we believe that most of them apply (or have applied) to all Black employees at some point and time at CARB.”
The state of California charges CARB with protecting the public from the harmful effects of air pollution and developing programs and actions to fight climate change. Founded in 1967, the Sacramento-based organization also sets air quality standards, oversee automakers’ emissions compliance, conducts research on air pollution, measures reductions of air pollutants and promotes public health, among other functions.
In July, Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), who is African American, called out Nichols online after she posted a message that drew parallels between the lack of clean air the death of George Floyd.
“How dare you use a dying man’s plea for help as a way to discuss your agenda. Have you no shame?” Cooper reacted to Nichols’ tweet.
Floyd died when a Minneapolis police officer pinned his knee on the unarmed Black man’s neck for nearly nine minutes in late May. The shocking incident caught on video a bystander caught was shared millions of time, sparking anti-Black racism protests across the globe.
On June 1, Nichols posted, “‘I can’t breathe’ speaks to police violence, but it also applies to the struggle for clean air. Environmental racism is just one form of racism. It’s all toxic. Government needs to clean it up in word and deed.”
Nichols later issued an apology via Twitter, stating “I apologize for speaking at the wrong time about the wrong topic. Racism comes in many forms and I believe we must fight every instance of it in our society.”
Nichols has served on the CARB Board under Gov. Jerry Brown (1975–82 and 2010–18), Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (2007–2010), and Gov. Gavin Newsom (2019–present).?
She also served as California’s Secretary for Natural Resources (1999–2003), appointed by Gov. Gray Davis. Her term under Newsom ends Dec. 31. There is speculation in Sacramento political circles that Nichols, 75, could be in line for a job as the head of the Environmental Protection Agency should Joe Biden win the presidency.
Published reports say CARB’s Executive Director Richard Corey forwarded CBE CARB’s letter to the air CARB’s staff about a week after he obtained it. The 13-page document is dated Sept. 4.
CARB’s board, which the governor appoints and the Senate confirms, consists of 14 voting members with two lawmakers in non-voting roles. The board does not have any Asian American or African American members.
“There is no doubt the letter eloquently describes a history of poor treatment, lost potential, and deep-seated pain,” Corey wrote in a memo to his staff, according to Politico. “But, when I consider the courage it took to write and submit the letter, I have a sense of optimism as I know that change begins with the ability to openly acknowledge and discuss issues.”
CBE CARB also stated that its only intent is to “shine a light on areas where CARB can improve” and asked the air pollution and climate agency to move forward and be “part of the solution.”?
“Our intent in sharing this Letter and Action Plan is not to shame or belittle CARB, or to assign blame. We enjoy the work we do at CARB and want to do all we can to improve CARB for the future, and our future careers with the agency,” CBE CARB stated in conclusion of the letter.??
Two young sibling entrepreneurs had a master plan and stuck to it. Billy Wright II and his sister, Bree Wright recently opened Plenty of Fish Seafood, their first restaurant in a chain of seafood eateries, in Lancaster, CA, the heart of the Antelope Valley’s high desert! The astute young visionaries are promising a winning combination of good customer service, fresh food and a squeaky-clean environment that they hope will keep customers coming back for more. The millennial duo was determined not to let the challenges and constrictions of the coronavirus undermine their hopes, plans and dreams and have so far succeeded.
LANCASTER, CA— The dry and arid Antelope Valley region, located right outside of bustling Los Angeles, is not a locale that makes one think of mouthwatering seafood meals. Add the current pandemic to the equation, and the odds seem even more unbeatable. However, two young sibling entrepreneurs had a master plan and stuck to it. Billy Wright II and his sister, Bree Wright recently opened Plenty of Fish Seafood, their first restaurant in a chain of seafood eateries, in Lancaster, CA, the heart of the valley’s high desert! The astute young visionaries are promising a winning combination of good customer service, fresh food and a squeaky-clean environment that they hope will keep customers coming back for more. The millennial duo was determined not to let the challenges and constrictions of the coronavirus undermine their hopes, plans and dreams and have so far succeeded.
Billy, 24 and Bree, 25, both attended Palmdale High School in the Antelope Valley and share a strong commitment to the region. They reside outside of the area now but wanted to return and create a Black business to serve their former community. Plenty of Fish Seafood will be a licensing and franchise operation, with the Lancaster/Palmdale location serving as home base. The restaurant will feature an outside dining area per current Covid compliance and will focus heavily on takeout and delivery servicing.
Plenty of Fish Seafood is designed to operate beyond the typical “you buy we fry” establishments, and will present a wide variety of comfort cuisine, including enticing seafood, both fried and grilled, along with delicious seafood-based salads. In an effort to support the economy with domestic based employment, all the seafood will be nationally sourced and not imported. A host of delectable signature side dishes will also grace the menu, including collard greens, potato salad, mouthwatering red beans and rice and an assortment of homemade desserts. The brother and sister team believe that what sets their diner apart from all the rest, however, is their signature batter, a secret recipe mixture handed down from both of their grandmothers, one from Oklahoma and the other from Louisiana!
Billy Wright II, co-owner, Plenty of Fish Seafood
“Our dad is my biggest inspiration in this venture. I had been working closely with him in a restaurant chain he was involved in, and I made great suggestions that were successfully implemented. Finally, one day he told me that my ideas were too good to be giving away and I should put my money where my mouth was and come up with my own concept and do things my way! I heeded his advice, got my sister on board and went to work on conceptualizing Plenty of Fish Seafood,” explains Billy.
Bree Wright, co-owner, Plenty of Fish Seafood
“Our dad eventually left the operation he was working with and came to work with us. So, Plenty of Fish Seafood is a family infused business, all the way from the food to the day to day operations,” adds Bree. “With so much craziness going on in the world, we feel blessed to have had so much love and support around us during these trying times. Things often seemed bleak, but our Dad remained a stronghold with his wisdom and guidance.”
Billy and Bree have their eyes set on the bigger picture. Once Plenty of Fish Seafood in Lancaster is self-sustaining, they will begin licensing other locations throughout targeted cities across the country. For now, they are busy with duties that include managerial tasks to overseeing marketing and advertising for the flagship shop.
“This is a great time for millennial entrepreneurs,” adds Billy Wright II. “We were already planning beyond the traditional brick and mortar restaurant even before Covid. My sister and I were already thinking about how far technology will go in the quick service industry. Right now, Plenty of Fish Seafood will be utilizing all the local delivery services, but I believe delivery drones and self-driving cars are the wave of our future and food servicing will be at the forefront of this change.”
“In addition, health and wellness is an even more essential concern now,” cites Bree. “So, we will eventually offer CBD infused dishes for its healing components.”
As the High Desert’s ultimate destination for down home inspired, scrumptious seafood dining, Plenty of Fish Seafood represents a positive ray of hope for the community during these pandemic times!
Plenty of Fish Seafood is located at 43937 15th Street West Lancaster, CA 93534. Go fishing and follow them on Facebook at @Plenty of Fish Seafood and on Instagram at @PlentyofFishSeafood. Order your plate online at (661) 471-9620.
Nurse and activist Cori Bush garnered a commanding 84 percent of the vote in Missouri’s 1st District to become the state’s first Black woman representative in the United States Congress.
“This is definitely a night to remember,” Bush told supporters during her acceptance speech. “This has been a historic day from the beginning to the end.”
To quote the New York Post: Bush had the backing of the Justice Democrats — who helped propel Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to her first upset victory over 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley.
In her August Democratic primary, Bush had her own upset victory, defeating longtime incumbent, Missouri Rep. William Lacy Clay.
Bush got involved with the Black Lives Mattermovement in 2014, when Michael Brown, an unarmed Black teenager, was shot and killed by a white police officer in Ferguson.
She joined the protests that erupted in the wake of the shooting and soon began leading the protests in her Missouri district.
Bush has remained engaged in protest work ever since, getting heavily involved in the recent protests surrounding the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— On Saturday, November 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County in collaboration with Young Visionaries Youth Leadership Academy and San Bernardino Valley College will be hosting their annual turkey giveaway at San Bernardino Valley College located at 701 South Mt. Vernon Avenue in San Bernardino.
Due to COVID, there are some restrictions. The restrictions include: Must pre-register online to attend; must be a resident of San Bernardino County; and one vehicle per household may participate. Please register at: https://annualturkey.eventbrite.com. Entrance begins at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Avenue at Esperanza Street.
SAN BERNARDINO, CA— A number of residents have asked what County leaders are doing to persuade Gov. Gavin Newsom and other State officials to offer more flexibility on COVID-related restrictions and allow more businesses to reopen. Make no mistake, the County has been hard at work on a daily basis throughout the pandemic trying to influence leaders in Sacramento.
Board of Supervisors Chairman Curt Hagman says he and other County officials and staff are in contact with federal, State and local officials on a daily basis. Much of this effort focuses on requesting alterations in State guidelines and securing additional pandemic-related resources for the county.
These efforts have delivered some notable results. Specifically, we have worked with the State to resume business activities serving communities in Purple Tier counties such as ours. Some of these specific businesses and activities we have fought to open include:
Personal care services
Campgrounds and outdoor recreation (with modifications)
Hotels and lodging (with modifications)
Libraries, retailers and shopping malls (25% capacity)
Youth sports
Allowing for in-person worship in churches and places of worship with restrictions.
We have also secured commitments from the State for additional testing and critical financial resources, as well as:
Waivers that have allowed 100 schools in the county to open for in-person instruction
More than $13 million to help provide temporary and permanent housing for the county’s homeless residents
More than $50 million in federal CARES Act funding for a variety of services associated with combating COVID-19
Almost $40 million to help backfill revenue losses associated with the pandemic
Our efforts to relax state mandates
While the County’s efforts have resulted in the State’s providing of additional resources, Chairman Hagman says convincing the governor to relax many of the State’s pandemic-related mandates has been a much harder sell.
Specifically, San Bernardino County has pushed hard for the state to recognize our county’s unique characteristics (primarily our immense geography), that would allow less populated rural areas to be treated differently than densely populated urban areas.
“We not only are the largest county in the lower 48 states, but we also have remote communities that have experienced literally zero infections,” Chairman Hagman said. “So we’ve been asking the State to allow us to adjust requirements based on things like population and infection rates. We’ve also emphasized a variety of practical challenges — such as requiring churches in desert communities to hold worship services outdoors when temperatures approach and exceed 100 degrees.”
He believes Governor Newsom is concerned about setting precedents for counties that don’t share San Bernardino’s unique conditions, but will nevertheless demand similar accommodations. Still, Chairman Hagman emphasizes that the County has no intention of easing up on its efforts.
“We have been very vocal in advocating a relaxation of many of the rules associated with reopening businesses, and have been particularly aggressive in seeking accommodations for churches, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship,” he said. “We’ve seen some success in that area, but are continuing to press our efforts.”
Ignoring the State not a viable option
Though some residents have argued that the county should either simply ignore the State’s directives or take a much more aggressive approach in demanding accommodations, Chairman Hagman said the county’s more cooperative tone has yielded better results — and that defying the State presents a number of unacceptable risks.
“In most of our communications, we have emphasized our willingness to work with the state for the benefit of county residents and others throughout California,” he said. “I am convinced that our cooperative attitude and tone has brought more benefits to San Bernardino County, and that a belligerent attitude would likely backfire.”
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY—- As we await to see will win the Presidential election, we can celebrate on the local side of things. Mayor of Rialto, Deborah Robertson and Assemblymember Eloise Reyes Gomez were among those who were re-elected. So, congratulations to those ladies. They have both been instrumental in bringing about major change to the community. Other good news is that Proposition 17 was passed as well as Proposition 22, and Proposition 20 was rejected.
Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes
Proposition 17 / Free the Vote Act is an amendment to the California constitution restoring the right to vote for people on parole. Now, over 50,000 people on parole in California will be able to vote in the next election. SOI is proud to be a part of the coalition of organizers that worked on the campaign to free the vote. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers that phone banked, did voter registration and helped to get out the vote.
Proposition 20 was a prison spending scam that would have put more people in prison with longer sentences by turning misdemeanors to felonies and reducing parole options. California rejected Prop 20 and returning back to tough on crime policies.
California voters listened to the hundreds of thousands of drivers like you who want to remain independent. Your story, your voice and your support made this possible, and victory for Prop 22 wouldn’t have happened without you. With the passage of Prop 22, you get to keep your flexibility and will gain new historic benefits.
To see the results for San Bernardino County, please click below
Stand Up for APA Urges All Women to Make Sure Their Health Insurance Plans Offer the Best Maternal and Prenatal Care Benefits and Options
SAN DIEGO, CA— As the annual open enrollment period begins for individual health insurance plans, Stand Up for APA, a nonprofit working to ensure that all women in the United States receive access to the most accurate non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) options, today encouraged all women to inquire about the maternal and prenatal benefits offered by health insurers and make sure they have access to the most appropriate insurance coverage for their health care needs.
All Women Need to Make Sure Their Health Insurance Plans Offer the Best Maternal and Prenatal Care Benefits & Options
Open enrollment – which takes place between November 1 and December 15 in most states – is the time of year when people with private health insurance or government-sponsored health insurance like the Affordable Care Act have the opportunity to enroll in or change their benefit programs.
“It is critical that pregnant women fully understand their health care benefits, and open enrollment is the perfect time for mothers and expectant mothers to check whether their health insurance plans cover the specific prenatal and maternal needs of their pregnancy,” said Brianna Wetherbe, Director and Board Member of Stand Up for APA. “We strongly believe that all health insurance plans – private and public – need to provide the highest standard of maternal and prenatal care options, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), to all pregnant women regardless of age or baseline risk.”
Here are the top three questions that all expectant mothers should ask this open enrollment period:
How does my plan cover costs related to pregnancy and giving birth? Most maternity costs are detailed in a plan’s Summary of Benefits and Coverage document; make sure to review plan details such as copays, coinsurance rates deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums to ensure that there are no surprise charges during prenatal and maternal services such as labor and delivery, midwife services, medically prescribed c-sections, or neonatal care.
Are my preferred doctors and medical facilities in-network? Check to see if preferred physicians and medical facilities are covered and in-network. Plan details can vary widely if a mother anticipates using infertility treatments, a nurse-midwife, or an independent birth center.
What specific services and procedures does the plan include for prenatal and maternity care? Beyond simply reviewing the costs, make sure to carefully review a health plan’s summary of benefits to see the specific set of prenatal and maternal care services it covers. Most plans will cover “essential services” such as delivery and inpatient hospital services, but other services, such as prenatal services, health screenings, lab work, ultrasounds, and birthing classes may not be covered. For example, a few large health insurers such as United Healthcare and Aetna still refuse to fully cover NIPT for all pregnant women, which goes against the guidance of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other leading physician organizations.
To learn more about NIPT access and Stand Up for APA, please visit: standup4apa.org.
Every action has a reaction, and I tell you, “I Did It My Way” has severe consequences. You better know that you know!
“All day long, I have held out my hands to a disobedient and contrary people.” [Romans. 10: 21]. They “walk in a way that is not good, following their own devices.” [Isaiah 65: 2]. But I tell you, they will soon find out the danger in, “doing it their way.” In Genesis 27, four people sang that same old song, “I did it my way.” In the end they all came up empty and paid a high price for their selfishness. Listen, there is a real danger in the “I did it my way” philosophy. The lie of autonomy seduces us into thinking that we’re independent creatures with the right to do whatever we want with the life that belongs to us. But listen to the song of Genesis 1:1 – “In the beginning, God…” That song is played to a radically different melody. If God was first, our lives have never belonged to us. You and I don’t have the right to think, desire, act and speak as if it does. If God was, then everything he declares is. That means the universe and everything in it must be seen and understood in a certain way – God’s way.
You know, the last thing Joshua did in the [Book of Judges] was tell the people, “You choose how you are going to live your life” and they did. They did it “their way” and what a mess they made of it. Over a 350 year period, they went through seven cycles. A cycle would start with the Israelite doing it their way. As a result, Israel would find herself in slavery. God would then send a leader-a judge-who would bring them out of captivity. Israel would follow for a while. But then another cycle would begin with “doing it their way.” Each cycle was worse than the one before. God would step in yet again, and for a while peace came over the land. But, overall, the spiraling down of the society continued. I tell you, the danger of “doing it your way” always lead to severe consequences.
For Saul, disobedience in not following God’s instructions had severe consequences. In [1 Samuel 31] Saul was the Lord’s chosen king for the Israelite’s. But rather than trusting that God knew best, Saul’s ego took first place in his heart. When it did, disobedience—doing things his way—became his undoing. Saul lost everything by losing sight of the only thing that mattered: his relationship with the one, true God. Don’t you do! For [Proverbs 14:12] tells us that, “There is a way that seems right to a man but its end is the way of death.”
I tell you, “there are some dire consequences when you don’t do things God’s way. You lose out on the blessings that God has for you when you don’t do things God’s way. You lose out on the victory that God has for you when you don’t do things God’s way. Doors of opportunity will be shut in your face when you don’t do things God’s way. Sleep will leave your eyes and you won’t be able to get any rest when you don’t do things God’s way. You will find yourself disappointed, depressed, and sad when you don’t do things God’s way. You will find yourself in bondage and confused when you don’t do things God’s way. You will find yourself broke, disgusted and frustrated when you don’t do things God’s way. You will find yourself in a whole lot of trouble, you will find yourself in a whole lot of mess, and in a whole lot of unnecessary drama when you don’t do things God’s way. You will become weak, and despondent when you don’t do things God’s way. There will be no peace for you and no comfort for you when you don’t do things God’s way. There will be no joy for you and no happiness for you when you don’t do things God’s way. Not only will you mess yourself up when you don’t do things God’s way, but you will even cause your family, not to be blessed when you don’t do things God’s way. Salvation and eternal life will be out of your reach when you don’t’ do things God’s way because salvation and eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.”
“If you want to be blessed, you have to do things God’s way. If you want the victory, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be successful and prosperous, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be the head and not the tail, you got to do things God’s way. If you want to be blessed in the city and blessed in the field, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be blessed going in and going out, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus, you have to do things God’s way. If you want deliverance, you must do things God’s way. If you want to be healed, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be filled with the Holy Spirit, you have to do things God’s way. If you want your home and marriage to be blessed, you have to do things God’s way. If you want to be blessed on your job, at school, in your neighborhood, you have to do things God’s way. You ought to be committed in doing things God’s way.” [Proverbs 3:5-6,].
I tell you, wisdom is the principal thing, but in all your getting get an understanding.” [Proverbs 4:7].
“Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail…” [Proverbs 15:22-32].
LOS ANGELES— In Israel, the sight of an African American man dressed in full Hasidic regalia tends to attract second glances even from people who don’t recognize this person as an internationally-known Orthodox Jewish rapper. Above all else, however, Nissim Black craves authenticity. He is who he is and can live with the attention.
“I get a lot of stares. Mostly good,” Black said. “They could be staring at you because you look different, or they could be staring at you because they like your music, and they don’t necessarily know how to come over and tell you so.”
An internationally known Black, Orthodox Jewish rapper, Nissim Black craves authenticity.
Black spoke from Israel via Zoom before performing at the American Jewish University’s B’Yachad Together series. During the “From Gangs 2 God” discussion with AJU’s Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, Black reflected on a unique personal journey that took him across faiths and the world. He capped off the event with a performance of his 2020 hit “Mothaland Bounce,” which garnered more than 4 million views on YouTube.
In “Mothaland Bounce,” Black labels himself “Black and Yiddish … Hitler’s worst nightmare.” Hirsch brands him “the voice of a generation.”
“Talk about surviving and turning your life around,” Hirsch said. “All the stakes were against him. There should be no reason he should become this pillar not just of faith and hope but innovation and creation and music. It’s an extraordinary story.”
Born Damian Jamohl Black, the Seattle native is the son of two rappers and the grandson of other musicians. He was raised Muslim, and converted to Christianity in high school before turning to Judaism.
His upbringing included high school football, gang activity, and evangelical camps. Black is open about his achievements and missteps. His parents both had drug problems, and Black himself has been in what he characterizes as a “kill or be killed” situation with another rap artist.
From a young age, as others in his neighborhood dreamed of NFL or NBA super stardom, Black wanted something different. His decision in high school to turn toward faith was surprising to some and predictable to others. Black recalls a conversation with a cousin who said she recognized even then Black was special, before he realized it himself.
“I don’t know where she was coming from. I knew me back then and I thought I was a knucklehead … just like everybody else,” Black said. “I hooked up with my high school friends after some time, and they admitted they knew I was so on fire, so spiritually-focused that they would get jealous. They wanted me to belong even if they didn’t feel that I did.”
Asked about influences both musical and spiritual, Black admits to being equally moved by the writings of Martin Luther King Jr. and King David (The song “A Million Years” is inspired by a psalm of King David) as he is by the work of Eminem and fellow Jewish black recording artist Drake. Black released two albums as D. Black (“The Cause and Effect” in 2006 and “Ali’yah” in 2009) before stepping away from hip hop to focus on his spiritual journey.
“I couldn’t figure out a way to make the two worlds work,” Black said. “It was very hard for me because my relationship to hip hop, at one point, was associated with absolutely nothing that I was learning in Judaism. I started working a regular job. Of course, because I’m the creative soul that I am, I was never fulfilled. But my main focus was connecting and coming closer to God.”
Black changed his name knowing that both he and his wife would be converting and wanting the new name that he would be known by to be on his marriage contract. He settled on “Nissim” (meaning “miracles”) partly by happenstance and partly because of what he considers providence.
After considering, Yehoshua, Black consulted several rabbis. One day, while praying over the name conundrum in temple, he reached behind the bench to grab a prayer book that said “Nissim” on it. He later realized that he was born on the seventh day of Kislev, the month of miracles in the Jewish calendar.
As Nissim Black, the artist appears to have discovered how to bridge the two worlds. Songs like “Mothaland Bounce” and the new single “RERUN” are part announcement and part self-reflection without anger or expletives.
The videos are distinctly playful, employing elements of both traditional hip hop and Orthodox Judaism. As Hirsch put it, the artist is “unafraid to bring together what most people think shouldn’t be blended.”
Have there been challenges to being Hasidic Jew and a rap star?
“I was told by everybody else, that nobody was going to embrace it,” Black said. “Maybe I should try something different. Maybe I should start singing Jewish medleys. But that’s not what God wanted from me. It’s not what he gave me. Everybody told me nobody’s going to accept you over here. I’m surprised to find it hasn’t been true.”
Hirsch, who also served as AJU’s chief innovation officer, believes the world will benefit from Black’s artistry.
“He breaks barriers everywhere he goes,” Hirsch said. “The music itself is breaking records and breaking barriers … but also, it’s him. By being authentic and by being real, he sets a new standard for what it means to be impactful in the world.”
Clemson University is developing a reputation for producing NFL first-round draft picks at the quarterback spot. After Deshaun Watson won a national title with the Tigers, the Houston Texans selected him with the 12th pick in 2017. Experts project current Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, who captured a national title as a true freshman, to be the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, long before Clemson produced these two amazing talents, Woodrow ‘Woody’ Dantzler was the top Tiger on campus. Dantzler was one the first signal-callers to thrive in the spread offense. In 2000, Dantzler set an ACC record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 220 against Virginia. The following year, he became the first QB in NCAA history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. As a motivational speaker, he gears his speeches toward diverse skill building and critical thinking while trying to tackle communication issues among today’s youth. He also mentors current Clemson football players through the university’s Tiger P.A.W. Journey Program.
While discussing the cultural change that has led to the recent success of Clemson’s football program, Dantzler opens up about whom he idolized growing up and much more.
Percy Crawford interviewed Woody Dantzler for Zenger News.
Percy Crawford interviewed Woody Dantzler for Zenger News (Photo courtesy of Percy Crawford)
Zenger: How is everything going, bro?
Woody Dantzler: Everything is going good.
Zenger: During your time at Clemson University, as a quarterback, you didn’t seem to mind running in between the tackles. To me you brought a certain level of toughness and physicality to the position. Did you develop that at Clemson?
Dantzler: You know what, that is the first time I have been slated as someone that was physical. I don’t know. It probably could have been my upbringing because I was an outside kid. I worked with my older cousins and playing around, so I was used to the physical stuff, martial arts being in my background and a few other things. But I was actually that guy that didn’t like contact. That’s why I was able to develop the knack for not getting hit. I say this, too. A lot of times it [the hits] looked worse than what they were because of my martial arts training; I had pretty good body control. So, I can go with the hit and go with that and move with that instead of really observing that hit like it may have looked.
Zenger: Absolutely. I guess your willingness to run in between the tackles … at the time you were doing it, it was not popular amongst some quarterbacks who were more protected back then.
Dantzler: Exactly!
Zenger: You left Clemson with more than 50 records. Does one stand out or mean more than the others?
Dantzler: To me, none really stands out. It’s just the totality of being able to play on that level, perform on that level. For me, it was more about not letting my teammates down. So, the preparation I put into each week, the film study, the working out, extending my conditioning level, all of that was because I know I had guys depending on me and I didn’t want to let them down. So, the way I prepared, that — coupled with the fact that my dad taught me — ‘if you’re going to do anything, do it to the best of your ability’. So, with those two things in mind, the records, the standards and all that different stuff just kind of came with the territory.
Zenger: It seems as if you lived off your father’s words a lot. Two things I researched he told you and you utilize are: when you were going to Clemson, he told you to be more than just a football player and also he said each generation sets up the next generation. Basically, each one, teach one, and I love both messages.
Dantzler: You just pointed out two really important ones. ‘Don’t go up there just to be a football player’ was just to get me to go up there and not put myself in a bubble. Experience what life had to offer. Learn different cultures, learn different people, learn different environments so you will know how to adapt and move and gain insight in whatever environment you’re in. That will help you succeed in any environment — the whole thing of setting up the next generation to be equally successful. If you move back into your … just consider the civil rights movement. A lot of those people, what they did in fighting for the rights of Black people and fighting for the people to have the rights to vote, a lot of them knew that they would never get those rights, but they knew the people coming behind them would. That’s why they fought; that’s why they worked and strategized and sacrificed. That’s what it’s about. My life is not about me. That’s one of the things my dad was teaching me. Your life is not about you. Your life is about the people to come. You want to leave this world better than what you found it. You want to set your kids up to go further than what you went. You can only take the torch but so far, but sooner or later you gotta pass it off. And you want to make sure when you pass it off, you want to give it to them in space where they can take it and go further.
Zenger: It takes a different type of person to fight for something that you won’t directly benefit from but someone else will.
Dantzler: Right! You’re absolutely right.
Woody Dantzler gears his speeches towards diverse communication skill building (Photo courtesy of Woody Dantzler)
Zenger: You look at where Clemson is as a program and the success that it has had of late. Obviously, Coach Dabo Swinney changed the culture, but you were a part of that era where Clemson started to win eight or nine games a season. What do you think of these highly successful Clemson teams?
Dantzler: It is the culture shift. You get to the point where, Coach Swinney has said it himself, the guys go into the game and they expect to win. It’s not, “I hope we win,” it’s not, “I think we can win,” it’s an expectation. No matter how the game flows, no matter what happens, it’s an expectation to win. So now that I expect to win, I know there are certain things that I’m going to have to do to put myself in a position to win. So, that whole culture has shifted, the mindset of the players has shifted, the staff has all bought in. He talks about being all in. One thing that I like that they do, before each game … I’m not sure if they still do it; they probably still do. Right before they come out for pre-game, there is a token on their bench where their locker is. And as they are walking out of the locker room, the strength coach is standing there with a bucket, and I got this one chip, this is all I got, and they drop it into the bucket as they go out to the field. It’s that whole thing of, I’m going all out. I’m putting in everything I got. It shows you what that environment is like. And it’s not just the players, but it’s the coaching staff, it’s the support staff. You think about the video department, you think about the nutritional department and the strength department — all of these things that come together in working towards one common goal.
It’s just a different culture there now. Even preparing the guys with Tiger P.A.W. Journey. I talk about them all the time because most people see football. And they see the guys out there on the field, and you see them practicing and all these different things. But you don’t see what’s going on with them actually developing the individual. So, I’m teaching this because not everybody is going to go to the NFL. And then after that, there is life after football. So, these guys are getting internships during the summer. They are traveling overseas to do servant work. They are going through the interview process. They are bringing companies into Clemson to sit down and teach them how to prepare for an interview and how to prepare for corporate America. All these things that are building a total man are just wonderful. Again, it just speaks to the culture of Clemson now.
Zenger: I read an interesting article the other day and it basically asked the question, in today’s game, would Woody Dantzler be drafted into the NFL as a quarterback? Do you think the position has changed so much that you would not have been switched to running back?
Dantzler: Oh, most definitely! And I hear that a lot. It’s that whole thing that we discussed earlier. It just wasn’t my time. I played the role that I was supposed to play for this thing to be what it is. I’m not taking all of the credit because there were guys that came before me that were opening people’s eyes, too. I just took the torch from them and carried it as far as I could. Another good friend of mine, Antwaan Randle El, he switched over to receiver, but he was another one. Kordell Stewart. He was ‘Slash.’ If you go back to that, he was the guy that got into that because he was playing quarterback, receiver and whatever else position they wanted him to play in Pittsburgh. You got different guys that were able to do different things, and I am just happy to be a part of that conversation. It was coming because if you think about it, look at some of these guys on defense now. The way they move, how big they are, how fast they are, how athletic they are. Even though he’s been around for a while, the “Tom Bradys,” guys sitting in the pocket and pick you apart are kind of becoming extinct because these guys are so fast and smart on defense. You gotta have somebody that can move at some point. That 6-5, 6-6 [QB] standing in the pocket, throwing the ball down the field is not the thing right now.
Zenger: During your time, there were only a handful of black quarterbacks. Did you have one in particular whom you idolized?
Dantzler: It was Warren Moon, all day and all night. That’s why I wore the No. 1. That was actually one of the highlights of my life; I actually got to meet him a couple of years ago at an event in Atlanta. So, that was beautiful for me. I looked up to him because he was the one … even though he had to take that route and go to Canada, because back then there was the stigma that the quarterback was a cerebral position, and they didn’t believe the black athlete could handle that pressure, and have those leadership skills to do it. So, we can run, we can jump and do everything else, but the quarterback position is not where they wanted us at that time. It wasn’t overt, but it was covert. … a lot of people had that thought process in them and really didn’t know that they were influenced by some of the people they were taught by. It was a fight. So, to watch him come out of college and take the route of going to play in Canada, and then come back and be successful and make it into the Hall of Fame, it was proven that it can be done — a guy like Doug Williams being the first to win a Super Bowl.
Zenger: Does Woody Dantzler play college football during a COVID-19 pandemic?
Dantzler: I would have most likely decided to play. That’s just me again, the whole thing of not wanting to let my teammates down. Other factors may have come into it, but you know, it’s one of those things where, as an individual, yeah, you’re a part of a team but you gotta look at the factors, do the real research. That’s what I hope — these kids that are opting out are doing the research themselves, gathering an understanding, talking to different people to get the full scope of making an intelligent decision. Once they make the decision based off of information that they researched and understood and they feel like it’s the best decision for them, then I’m all for it. I just don’t want them to be making a decision based off of false information, bad information or someone with slanted motives trying to get them to do something that they don’t need to do. If they have done the research and they are making the best decision for them, I’m all for it. Nothing against that, but if it’s done to where they don’t have all the information and they could’ve made a different decision had they had all the info and done the research themselves.
Zenger: Were you able to be hands-on with Deshaun Watson when he was at Clemson or able to mentor him in some manner?
Dantzler: Yeah! I mentioned Tiger P.A.W. Journey. That’s the name of the program run by Jeff Davis and headed up by Rashard Hall. I participated in what they call ‘Tiger Hood.’ It’s where former players mentor current players. I’m in sales; my territory allows me to work the upstate. So, I’m in Clemson a good li’l bit. I pass through. Yes, I’ve had conversations with different guys. I mentor guys on the team currently. I have been doing that the past few years. DeShaun was that special individual. You just knew something was different about him. He doesn’t remember our first meeting because I actually remember him when he came to camp as a sophomore. I hope I don’t get in trouble (laughing), but I remember telling him, “Man, you’re a sophomore. You’re in the 10th grade. You have two more years. Enjoy high school.” They wanted me to go over there and convince him why to come to Clemson and this and that, but I went over there and I sat down and I was like, “Look, you got two more years of high school. Enjoy it! When you get into your senior year, then you can start thinking about which college you want to go to. If you come to a decision before then, then great. If not, don’t feel pressure to make a decision as a sophomore to go anywhere.” So, that was just the type of things we just talked about. We talked about real life.
Zenger: What are your thoughts on Trevor Lawrence, who by most accounts will be the first pick in next year’s draft?
Dantzler: With Trevor, as they say, he’s just one of those guys. He has that factor. DeShaun had that factor, and Trevor has that same “it” factor. He walks into a room and he just changes the environment with his presence alone. And not to mention he has the work ethic, he has the humility, he has all of the intangibles to be great. So, I’m not surprised at all that most likely he is going to be the #1 pick in the draft. He’s just that guy.
Zenger: You mentor Clemson players and you also do some motivational speaking all over the country. How important is that for you to give back and integrate that ‘each one, teach one,” mentality?
Dantzler: That’s the thing. One thing I noticed is the generation gap has gotten so big to where there’s no passing down of information. There’s no conversations. With the explosion of single parenthood, these kids having babies when they’re young. Grandma, too, grandmas now are 45 years old. Those conversations and that knowledge is not being passed down like it used to be. My role … all I want to do is do what my dad did for me. We would talk, and I would ask him a question about something, and he would answer my question with a question. But what he was doing was making me think through the process, think through the situation myself to come up with an answer. Now, if I struggled a little bit, he would give me a little nudge, but for the most part he was teaching me how to think.
And right now, a lot of our young people don’t have those critical thinking skills. They don’t know how to look beyond the surface. They don’t know how to come outside of their own bubble to truly understand what’s going on. They get information and then they just go with the information. That whole thing of trust but verify — we don’t do the verifying part because it takes effort on our part. And that’s what I want to instill in these kids. Just the art of conversation. We don’t talk no more. People don’t talk no more, and it’s even more evident to the fact of, if I disagree with you, then you hate me. That’s what it really boils down to. We can have a disagreement about an issue and not hate one another. Just pushing kids to go beyond the surface to develop themselves to reach their full potential is what I want. And you can’t reach your full potential when you’re only looking at half the information or only taking in half the information. My goal is to get people to get back to thinking and thinking things through. We need to get back to critical thinking — having those conversations and being able to build — because we need one another.
Zenger: It’s an honor speaking with you, brother. Thank you and continue to be a voice to educate.
Dantzler: Thank you. I appreciate you thinking about me. I appreciate the conversation.
(Edited by Stan Chrapowicki and Allison Elyse Gualtieri)
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