Happily Divorced And After

PASADENA, CA— In a heartfelt tribute to the brave emergency workers who battled the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, Jelly Roll headlined a benefit concert at the iconic Rose Bowl. The free event brought together an impressive lineup of artists, including Public Enemy, Marshmello, Lainey Wilson, and many others, all uniting for a common cause.

L-R Latrice Kristine, Eugene Weems, Tycoon62 raising funds for LA wildfire victims.

The concert served not only as entertainment, but also as a platform to honor the first responders who faced the devastating fires head-on. Attendees were treated to powerful performances while also contributing to a noble cause.

Among the special guests was World Heavyweight Champion Eugene V.I.P Weems, who engaged with the crowd, emphasizing the importa

nce of community support. Singer-songwriter Latrice Kristine and rapper Tycoon62 also made their presence felt, promoting their charity single “Burning Memories,” which aims to raise funds for wildfire victims through its accompanying music video.

This event followed another benefit concert held on January 30 at L.A.’s Intuit Dome and Kia Forum in Inglewood, where Jelly Roll shared the stage with an array of renowned artists, including Stevie Wonder, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish, and Katy Perry. The performances captivated audiences and raised significant funds, with all proceeds directed to designated beneficiaries supporting those affected by the wildfires.

The fundraising efforts were broadcast and streamed widely across various platforms, including Apple, DirecTV, Disney+/Hulu, and more, ensuring that the message of support reached as many people as possible.

As communities continue to recover from the impact of the wildfires, events like these highlight the power of music and solidarity in helping those in need.

By Good Black News

Born in 1875 in Virginia to formerly enslaved parents who were never taught to read and write, Carter G. Woodson often had to forgo school for farm or mining work to make ends meet, but was encouraged to learn independently and eventually earned advanced degrees from the University of Chicago and Harvard.

It was at these lauded institutions of higher education where Dr. Woodson began to realize these new educational opportunities for Negroes were potentially as damaging as they were helpful, if not more so, as much of the curriculum was biased and steeped in white supremacy.

In 1916, Dr. Woodson helped found the Journal of Negro History with Jesse E. Moreland, intent on providing scholarly records and analysis of all aspects of the African-American experience that were lacking in his collegiate studies.

As Dr. Woodson researched and chronicled civilizations in Africa and their historical advancements in mathematics, science, language and literature that were rarely discussed in academic circles, he also criticized the systematic ways Black people post-Civil War were being “educated” into subjugation and self-oppression:

“The same educational process which inspires and stimulates the oppressor with the thought that he is everything and has accomplished everything worthwhile, depresses and crushes at the same time the spark of genius in the Negro by making him feel that his race does not amount to much and never will measure up to the standards of other peoples. The Negro thus educated is a hopeless liability of the race.”

In 1926, Dr. Woodson began promoting the second week of February as Negro History Week. He chose this week in February intentionally, as it overlapped the birthdays of abolitionist activist Frederick Douglass (February 14) and President Abraham Lincoln (February 12) aka “The Great Emancipator.”

Supported and cross-promoted by several African American newspapers in the U.S., recognition and celebration of Negro (or African-American) History Week was slowly adopted through state departments of education (eg. Delaware, North Carolina, West Virginia) and in city schools (eg. Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City).

Dr. Woodson spent decades advocating for excellence in the education of Black students and demanding school systems across the U.S. eliminate curricula designed deliberately to “mis-educate” Black children while promoting the fallacy of white superiority.

In 1933 he published a collection of his articles and speeches titled The Mis-Education of the Negro (available to read for free in the public domain), spreading his message and mission for unbiased and expansive education even further.

“When you control a man’s thinking you do not have to worry about his actions. You do not have to tell him not to stand here or go yonder. He will find his ‘proper place’ and will stay in it.”

By the time Dr. Woodson died in 1950, a significant amount of mayors across the U.S. supported and acknowledged Negro History Week.

By February 1969, more than a decade into the Civil Rights Movement and less than a year after the assassination of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., students and educators at Kent State University proposed the first Black History Month — then celebrated it in February 1970.

Six years later, after meeting with civil rights leaders Vernon Jordan, Bayard Rustin, Dorothy Height and Jesse Jackson, as part of the nation’s bicentennial celebrations, it was President Gerald Ford (a Republican!) who officially acknowledged and co-signed the significance of Black History Month for all U.S. citizens:

“In celebrating Black History Month, we can take satisfaction from this recent progress in the realization of the ideal envisioned by our founding fathers. But, even more than this, we can seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history.”

So, even though this year the current administration has dusted up a pause on the celebration of Black History Month within federal agencies (don’t let the doublespeak of a Proclamation fool ya), Dr. Woodson’s good and lasting work of a lifetime will continue to be acknowledged, shared and celebrated this year, on its official centennial next year, and for all time — for the people, by the people.

Sources:

• https://goodblacknews.org/2022/02/02/gbn-daily-drop-podcast-carter-g-woodson-the-father-of-black-history-listen/
• https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/29/us/politics/trump-holiday-mlk-black-history-dei.html
• https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/us/history-of-black-history-month.html

RIVERSIDE, CA—- Master horseman, Mike Jones, will be riding and performing stunts and tricks at the Charlie Sampson Rodeo, which will be held on June 28, 2025, in Norco, California. Charlie Sampson and other Black cowboys and cowgirls will be appearing in the Riverside Black History Parade and Expo in Downtown Riverside on Saturday, February 8, 2025. The parade starts at 10 a.m. and the Expo begins at 11a.m.  The public is invited to meet Charlie and take pictures with him and his horses, as well as pet the horses, and request an autograph from Charlie. Charlie’s crew also will hold a drawing during the Expo to give away some free tickets to the June Rodeo!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – San Bernardino County, in partnership with the San Bernardino County Equity Element Group (SBC Equity Element Group), has retained the firm of Equity & Results, a multiracial learning organization expert in supporting organizations in advancing racial equity and liberation through institutional change. A co-principal and co-founder, Theodore B. Miller, Esq., leads the engagement.

“The SBC Equity Element Group is tasked with determining where there may be racial disparities among our residents in San Bernardino County, recommending campaigns and programs to address those issues, and identifying initiatives that are already underway within county government or in the community that can be highlighted and supported,” said San Bernardino County Assistant Executive Officer Diana Alexander.

On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution declaring Racism A Public Health Crisis. It tasked the county with forming an equity group to represent the 11th element of the Countywide Vision.

Discussions that led to the declaration and equity group were inspired by the national conversation taking place in the wake of the May 2020 murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The SBC Equity Element Group comprises Black community members who can review the other 10 elements of the Countywide Vision with an equity focus. Eventually, the group will grow to include representatives from other county communities and include an equity focus for all people.

Miller brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in tackling equity issues within the Black community. With more than 20 years of experience, he has dedicated himself to developing community and neighborhood solutions for some of the world’s most challenging problems.

An expert facilitator and educator on racial inequity and social change for Equity & Results, Miller has taught in university, criminal justice, corporate, and community environments worldwide.

Previously, Miller was recently a senior advisor to three consecutive mayors in San Francisco and the director of HOPE SF, the nation’s first large-scale partnership to transform dilapidated and segregated public housing neighborhoods into vibrant, racially equitable, mixed-income communities without mass displacement of residents.

Many long-standing underserved families, especially African Americans and Pacific Islanders, have found new ladders of opportunity thanks to Miller’s efforts. This has come through significant investments in mixed-income housing, fostering community leadership and resident voice networks, and enhancing education, health, and employment services.

A graduate of  Yale University and Harvard Law School, Miller was inspired in college by the youth residents of New Haven, Connecticut, where he worked as a community organizer and mental health counselor.

Throughout his career, he has advised and led businesses, universities, hospitals, and elected officials in urban areas nationwide to redesign policy, create new collaboration models, and achieve dramatically better results for low-income communities of color.

Before his appointment to the Mayor’s Office by the late San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee, Miller managed community benefits for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, was a corporate attorney at the firm Davis Polk & Wardwell, a commercial broker and real estate developer, and a lecturer and Fellow at the Hutchins Center for African American Research at Harvard University.

Miller has served on the San Francisco Bar Association’s Board of Directors, lives in Oakland, and has two daughters.

For more information on the Equity Element Group, email Info@SBCEEG.org.

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media?? 

In May of 2023, California launched an anti-hate hotline and resource network, California vs Hate, to address a sharp rise in reported hate crimes targeting racial and ethnic minority populations. While data has shown reported incidents nearly doubled since 2019, rural areas of California continue to be underreported.

Kevin Kish, Director of the California Civil Rights Department, recently spoke at an Ethnic Media Services webinar offering his observations and highlighting the importance of spreading the word about California vs. Hate’s resources.

“That lack of reporting out of rural areas is not a good thing. And that lack of reporting out of rural areas of our state is also reflected in the Attorney General’s hate crime report,” Kish said.

“Many of these counties are reporting zero or very few hate crimes. We know that when people are afraid, when they feel isolated, it is unlikely for them to turn to government, at least not without a trusted intermediary, a trusted person or organization who helps them do that,” he added.

The issue is particularly concerning for Black Californians as increasing numbers of Black individuals and families have moved from coastal cities and suburbs to exurbs rural areas over the last 40 years in counties and inland areas, including Riverside, San Bernardino, and Kern counties in Southern California and Solano County, San Joaquin and Kings counties in Northern California.

In fact, some rural cities now have higher percentages of Blacks per capital than urban areas. For example, Rio Vista, a rural area in Solano County has a Black population of over 10% and Weed, a town in Siskiyou County, has a Black population of around 8%.

Some barriers to reporting, Kish shared, were language limitations, mistrust of local government and lack of knowledge of what qualifies as a hate crime.

“California versus hate was designed to overcome these barriers specifically. It is designed to help everyone who experiences hate, no matter who they are, no matter where they are in our state, and no matter whether what they experienced was in fact a crime.”

In the hotline’s first year of existence, it received over 1,000 reports. The most commonly cited form of hate was based on race and ethnicity. 560 of those reports were confirmed incidents and race and ethnicity made up 35% of the reports. Of those, anti-Black bias was the most common, followed by anti-Latino and anti-Asian bias.

After race and ethnicity, the most common frequently cited basis was gender identity and sexual orientation.

Marlene Thomas, Executive Director of the Imperial Valley Social Justice Committee, also spoke at the webinar to shed light on what it is like to offer services in a rural county of California that experiences incidents of hate yet experiences low numbers of reporting.

“We had a Stop the Hate conference and the chief of police and the sheriff who were there and presented. They went through the whole reporting process that you have to, to do, but they had only two complaints. And I feel, and I know that they had to have more than that, but they didn’t. But why? The reason is lack of awareness of what the people can really do. And then believe it or not, as small as rural communities are, we are not getting information. And we have to increase public awareness to that fact.”

Thomas shared that the most common incidents of hate in her county are directed towards the trans community.

The hotline operates as a tool to connect people who experience hate with culturally competent resources in the communities where they live to the resources they need. If the reported incident requires police assistance, the hotline can provide this. Grassroots organizations across the states have also partnered with the hotline offering legal services, counseling, financial assistance and more.

If you, or someone you know, has been the target of hate or witnessed an act of hate, you can call the hotline at 833-866-4283. It is open Monday to Friday from 9 a. m. to 6 p. m. You can also leave a message, or you can report online at any time by visiting CaliforniaVsHate.org. You can report in 15 different written languages and operators can talk to you in over 200 languages.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA– This Valentine’s Day, couples seeking to celebrate their love with a lifelong commitment are invited to make an appointment for marriage services at the San Bernardino County Clerk’s Office. Whether planning an intimate ceremony or looking forward to your special day, the County Clerk’s Office is here to help make the experience seamless and memorable.

“We are thrilled to offer couples the opportunity to marry on one of the most romantic days of the year,” said Josie Gonzales, Assessor-Recorder-County Clerk. “Valentine’s Day is a time to celebrate love, and we are proud to assist couples in starting their journey together in San Bernardino County.”

Appointments for marriage licenses and ceremony services are now available, and couples are encouraged to reserve their spot early. The County Clerk’s Office offers convenient and efficient services to ensure a stress-free experience. Couples are also welcomed to bring loved ones and friends, to make their special moment that much more memorable.

Couples wishing to get married through the County Clerk offices must review the marriage license requirements and complete an application at arc.sbcounty.gov/marriage prior to booking their marriage service appointment online.

San Bernardino County Clerk offices offering marriage services:

San Bernardino- Hall of Records
222 W. Hospitality Lane, 1st Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415

High Desert Government Center
15900 Smoke Tree Street, 1st Floor
Hesperia, CA 92345

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— The City of San Bernardino in partnership with California Culture Festival will be ringing in the Year of the Snake at its second annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 1 from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm at the downtown Court Street Square. The free family event will feature cultural musical performances, demonstrations, arts and craft activities, food vendors, art galleries and much more.

“San Bernardino’s Lunar New Year Celebration is a vibrant reflection of our diverse community and a wonderful opportunity to honor the rich traditions and contributions of our Asian American residents,” said Mayor Helen Tran. “It brings us together to celebrate culture, unity, and the shared hope for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead.”

The Court Street Square, located at 349 North E Street will be transformed by the San Bernardino Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department, much like recent celebrations such as the Christmas themed Miracle on Court Street in December and the Dia de los Muertos festival in November.

“The Court Street Square is quickly becoming the primary location for festive gatherings in San Bernardino,” said Interim Parks and Recreation Director Ernesto Salinas. “The City is committed to bringing amazing cultural celebrations downtown that are fun, colorful, and educational.”

The festivities will include:

• Musical performances and cultural demonstrations, featuring traditional dragon and lion dances.
• Arts and Craft activities for the whole family, featuring Calligraphy, Origami, and Snake puppets.
• Multiple staged photo areas.
• A gallery highlighting San Bernardino’s Sister Cities from the East.
• Food vendors and merchants selling goods.
• Community Groups and Sponsor informational booths.

This year marks the Year of the Snake, and the snake will play a featured role in traditional musical performances and throughout the celebration.

Every year, a different animal is celebrated on a twelve-year rotating cycle with traits and symbols that hold meaning for what’s to come in the new year. The snake signifies charm, transformation, intelligence, and creativity, but can also be associated with mystery, independence, and cautiousness.

Lunar New Year is one of the most important celebrations of the year among Eastern and Southeast Asian cultures. It reflects the new year on the lunisolar calendar. It is the most important holiday in China, and widely observed throughout Asia, and in Asian-American communities throughout the United States.

In some countries, the Lunar New Year celebration lasts for fifteen days. This year, the celebration runs from January 29 through February 12.

“I am proud to see our city embrace such a meaningful celebration that highlights the beauty of our collective heritage,” added Mayor Tran.

Event sponsors include California Culture Festival, DAO Real Estate Group, H&H Lending, Inland Chinese Association, Lucky Star Marketing, MVS, Inc, Hiep Thanh Supermarket.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— In collaboration with San Bernardino County, The San Bernardino County Equity Element Group (SBC Equity Element Group) has created a workshop series designed to increase the number of minority-owned businesses that can access the millions of dollars in contracts the county will award this year.

The goal of the event, “Empowering Minority-Owned Businesses: Your 101 Guide to Contract Bidding Success,” is to equip participants with the skills and knowledge necessary to boost your chances in winning County contracts.

“The SBC Equity Element Group is committed to creating a more equitable and inclusive San Bernardino County. These workshops are designed to help people of color access and increase the number and size of contracts obtained through the procurement process,” said Rev. George Lamb, chair of the SBC Equity Element Group.

Workshop Objectives: 

1. Understanding and Managing ePro: Attendees will learn how to register, manage their vendor accounts, reset credentials, and navigate the ePro system to search for open bids.
2. Review Bid Proposals and Ask Questions: The workshop will cover County bid request templates, completion of the Local Vendor Self-Certification Form, and strategies for effectively posting questions to clarify bid requirements.
3. Respond to Bids Successfully: Participants will master creating and submitting precise quotes in ePro while avoiding common pitfalls.
4. Businesses can register online with ePro at the Purchasing Department website at: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/purchasing/vendor-registration/

Register for the workshop at a time and location that works best for you

Tuesday, February 4, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.  San Bernardino County Government Center 385 N Arrowhead Ave, San Bernardino, CA

Thursday, February 6, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.  San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, 15020 Palmdale Rd, Victorville, CA 92392

Wednesday, February 12, 4 p.m.–7 p.m.  San Bernardino County Children and Family Services, 9518 E. 9th St. Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Additional information will be available from the San Bernardino County Departments of:

• Workforce Development: https://workforce.sbcounty.gov/business-services/
• Economic Development: https://selectsbcounty.com/major-initiatives/entrepreneurship
• Purchasing Department: https://wp.sbcounty.gov/purchasing/getting-started/#procurement

“We are committed to increasing the number of local and minority-owned businesses contracting with San Bernardino County,” said San Bernardino County Director of Purchasing, Pete Mendoza.

“Seize the chance to empower your business and improve your bidding skills,” said Rev. Lamb.

For more information, please contact Sandra Abarca at (909) 387-4261.

For additional information about the SBC Equity Element Group, contact Info@SBCEEG.org.

About The San Bernardino County Equity Element Group

The SBC Equity Element Group’s mission is to identify and address systemic inequities within San Bernardino County. It focuses on creating a more just and equitable society for all residents, particularly Black residents and people of color. The Group strives to dismantle barriers, promote inclusivity, and empower marginalized communities through data-driven strategies and community-centered solutions.  We believe that Equity Elevates Everyone.

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA–– Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Eta Nu Omega Chapter and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Mu Xi Lambda Chapter will be holding the 37th Oratorical Contest for students in grades 1st through 12th on Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Rancho Cucamonga High School. Please view the flyer and encourage students to participate. This contest will help all age groups with their critical thinking and public speaking skills. Application available by using the QR code or the link below: https://forms.gle/VLh4EivgoH6gYuXS8. Should you have any questions, feel free to email Twillea Evans-Carthen at tevanscarthen@icloud.com.