By Ronda Racha Penrice, Urban News Service

Young people in Dr. King’s native Atlanta responded to the recent police killings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile with consecutive nights of marches. Celebrities spotted in the protests included rapper T.I. and actress Zendaya Coleman.

Other stars have spoken up about these and similar incidents, mainly through social media. The New York Knicks’s Carmelo Anthony issued a one-page challenge in the July 9 New York Daily News for his “fellow athletes to step up and take charge.” He took an even higher-profile stance on July 13. “The urgency for change is definitely at an all-time high,” Anthony said, as he, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James opened the ESPYs, the Oscars of sports.

These pleas for social justice are not unique to today’s celebrities. Former collegiate athlete, singer and actor Paul Robeson became politically active in the 1930s. He paid a heavy price for such activism in the ’40s and ’50s, as he largely lost his livelihood. Robeson’s difficulties didn’t deter other performers. In Stars for Freedom: Hollywood, Black Celebrities, and the Civil Rights Movement, author Emilie E. Raymond focuses on six celebrities — Harry Belafonte, Sidney Poitier, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Dick Gregory — who struggled for social change. Gregory was an early and leading critic of police brutality.

“He was the one that was in the South,” says the Virginia Commonwealth University professor. “He was arrested in Greenwood, Mississippi; Pine Bluff, Arkansas and in Birmingham and, in those places, he talked about the horrible conditions of the jails and how he was beaten by the police.”

Gil Scott-Heron blasted the police killings of popular Black Panther leader Fred Hampton in Chicago and the more obscure Michael Harris on “No Knock” from his 1972 Free Will album. Langston Hughes’s 1949 poem, “Third Degree,” about a policeman coercing a confession, begins “Hit Me! Jab Me!/Make me say I did it.” Audre Lorde’s “Power” — a 1978 poem about the police killing of a 10-year-old boy and the cop’s subsequent acquittal — minces few words. “Today the 37 year old white man/with 13 years of police forcing/was set free,” it reads.

Hip-hop artists have long addressed police brutality and killings. “In the ’80s and ’90s, you had artists who were political or conscious,” says Bakari Kitwana, formerly an editor with The Source and author of Hip-Hop Activism in the Obama Era. Although many cite N.W.A.’s aggressively-titled 1988 hit “F*** Tha Police” as the prime example of this activism, the West Coast group also stood alongside more politically grounded hip-hop artists such as Public Enemy (“Fight the Power,” 1989).

“[Young people] are finding out about some of these cases because of social media,” says Kitwana. “Hip hop was that communicator before social media.”

Hip-hop artists, even some unexpected ones, still get political about police misconduct. In her verse on rapper French Montana’s “New York Minute” (2010), Nicki Minaj cites the 2006 killing of Sean Bell, whom NYPD officers shot on his wedding day. Other artists, like relative newcomer Vic Mensa, opt to be more overtly political. His “16 Shots” focuses on a Chicago cop’s fatal shooting of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.

Mainstream artists perceived as anti-police have faced genuine backlash. Following Beyoncé’s Super Bowl performance paying homage to the Black Panthers, a previously unknown group, Proud of the Blues, called a protest in New York that reportedly no one attended. Also, the Coalition for Police and Sheriffs (C.O.P.S.) staged a small demonstration when Beyoncé’s tour stopped in her native Houston. Opposition on social media, however, has been more pronounced. Jesse Williams’ passionate, anti-racism BET Awards speech, which also touched on police killings, sparked a petition to boot him from the cast of Grey’s Anatomy.

Potential backlash has not silenced some stars.

Compton rapper The Game used social media to report a secret meeting he organized with 100 black celebrities. Comedian Rickey Smiley hosted a more traditional town hall on July 12 — dubbed #StrategyForChange — at the House of Hope Church near Atlanta. Hundreds attended a passionate discussion that included rappers/singers 2 Chainz, Jeezy, David Banner, Lyfe Jennings and Tyrese, Dr. King’s daughter Bernice King, and his comrade Rev. C.T. Vivian.

Speaking out is deeply personal for Smiley. As a young man, the Birmingham native marched to protest white police officer George Sand’s killing of Benita Carter. Sand fatally shot Carter, a friend of Smiley’s mother, in her back as she sat in her car. Carter is one reason why Smiley sees risking his fame as an obligation.

“I can’t sit here and live off of folks, live off of my people, who listen to The Rickey Smiley Morning Show and watch Rickey Smiley For Real and come out and see me perform every weekend and not stand for them when they need something.”

NATIONWIDE- Reacting to the most recent wave of shootings of Black men by police officers, thousands of African-American consumers across America are directing their dollars by opening checking and savings accounts in Black-owned banks.

A grassroots effort being called a “Spend Movement” found the nation’s Black banks receiving calls and on-line requests to open accounts.

According to National Bankers Association President Michael Grant, “This is a movement that began over 100 years ago but had become dormant as a consequence of racial integration.  Thousands have been mobilized to protest with their spending power.  Many African-American consumers are linking the shootings with a sense of powerlessness, feeling undervalued and disrespected.”  

Many African-American bankers are hearing that Black lives do not seem to matter because less value is placed on the lives of Black people as a group in America.

Since Friday, July 8, literally thousands of checking and savings accounts have been opened at Black-owned banks.

“The Black lives matter movement is a complement to an emerging economic empowerment movement that is engulfing Black communities all over America,” stated Preston Pinkett, NBA Chairman and CEO of City National Bank, headquartered in Newark, N.J.

Hoping to manage the expectations of its expanding customer base, Black bankers are encouraging some of their prospective customers who have lost their check-writing privileges to work with bank employees to correct the situation. But the banks are also cautioning customers not to become frustrated if the bank is unable to immediately extend check- writing privileges because of past mistakes by customers.

Grant also cautioned Black consumers to be mindful of the voluminous requests that the banks are receiving on-line, in person and by telephone.  He stated: “This is a very positive development for Black banks.  They have always provided a disproportionate share of the small business loans and consumer loans to African-Americans.  Ironically, it seems that we have gone full circle back to where we were before desegregation.  The Black community is turning inward and seeking to provide security for itself.  And few would argue against the notion that nearly every major social issue plaguing Black people in America can find its roots in economic deprivation.

The National Bankers Association, founded in 1927, is a consortium of African-American, Hispanic, Asian, Native American and women-owned banks.  The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C.

The following is a listing of all NBA banks:
ALABAMA
Commonwealth National Bank
P. O. Box 2326
Mobile, AL 36652
(251) 476-5938, X105
(251) 476-9488 Fax
REGION I – African-American

Neill W. Wright
President 
Liberty Bank and Trust
660 Adams Avenue
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 262- 0800
(334) 262- 0838 Fax
nwright@libertybank.net
REGION I – African-American

CALIFORNIA
William Lu
President & CEO
Saigon National Bank
15606 Brookhurst Street
Westminster, CA 92262
(714) 338-8700
(714) 338-8730 Fax
blu@SaigonNational.com

REGION V-Asian-Vietnamese

Kevin Cohee
President / CEO
OneUnited Bank
3863 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90016
kcohee@oneunited.com
REGION V – African-American

Robert Lussier
President & CEO
Trans Pacific National Bank
55 Second Street, Suite 100
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 543-1052
(415) 543-3377 Fax
rlussier@tpnb.com

REGION V – WOB

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
B. Doyle Mitchell, Jr.
President & CEO
Industrial Bank
4812 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20011
(202) 722-2014
(202) 722-2040 Fax
dmitchell@industrial-bank.com
REGION II – African-American

FLORIDA
Kevin Cohee
President / CEO
OneUnited Bank
3275 NW 79th St.
Miami, FL 33147
kcohee@oneunited.com

REGION I – African-American

GEORGIA 
Cynthia Day
President & CEO
Citizens Trust Bank
75 Piedmont Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30303
(404) 575-8300
(404) 575-8311 Fax
Cynthia.Day@CTBATL.com

REGION I – African-American

Robert E. James
President
Carver State Bank
P. O. Box 2769
Savannah, GA 31402
(912) 233-9971
(912) 232-8666 Fax
RJames@carverstatebank.com
REGION I – African-American

KANSAS
Sachitra Padamabhan
Chairman & President
CBW Bank
P. O. Box 287
Weir, KS 66781
(620) 396-8221
(620) 396-8402 FAX
suchitra@cbwbank.com

REGION III-Asian
Alden J. McDonald
President & CEO
Liberty Bank & Trust
1314 N. 5th
Kansas City, KS 66101
913-321-7200
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net

REGION III – African-American

KENTUCKY
Pedro A. Bryant
Chairman, President & CEO
Metro Bank
900 S. 12th St.
Louisville, KY 40210
(502) 775-4553
(502) 775-5323 FAX
pedrob@metrobankky.com
REGION III – African-American

ILLINOIS
Alden J. McDonald, Jr.
President
Liberty Bank & Trust Co.
1111 S. Homan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60624
(773) 533-6900, X239
(773) 533-8512 Fax
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net
REGION III – African-American

Seaway Bank & Trust Company
645 East 87th Street
Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 487-4800
(773) 487-0452 Fax
execdesk@seawaybank.us
REGION III – African-American

Frank Wang
President
International Bank of Chicago
1860 North Mannheim Road
Stone Park, IL 60165
(708) 410-2899
(708) 410-2696 Fax
Robert.Klamp@INBK.com

REGION III – Asian

LOUISIANA
Alden J. McDonald, Jr.
President & CEO
Liberty Bank & Trust Company
P. O. Box 60131
New Orleans, LA 70160
(504) 240-5161
(504) 240-5166 Fax
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net
REGION I – African-American

MARYLAND
Joseph Haskins
Chairman & CEO
The Harbor Bank of Maryland
25 West Fayette Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(410) 528-1882
(410) 951-1858 Fax
jhaskins@theharborbank.com
REGION II – African-American

MASSACHUSETTS
Kevin Cohee
Chairman & CEO
OneUnited Bank
100 Franklin Street, Suite 600
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 457-4400
(617) 457-4435 Fax
kcohee@oneunited.com
REGION II – African-American

MICHIGAN
Barry Clay
President & CEO
First Independence Bank
44 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 256-8466
(313) 256-8811 Fax
bclay@firstindependence.com
REGION III – African-American

Alden J. McDonald
President & CEO
Liberty Bank & Trust
9108 Woodward Ave.
Detroit, MI 48202
313-873-3310
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net
REGION III – African-American

MISSISSIPPI
Alden J. McDonald
President & CEO
Liberty Bank & Trust
2325 Livingston Rd.
Jackson, MS 39201
(601) 987-6730
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net
REGION I – African-American

MISSOURI
Alden J. McDonald
President & CEO
Liberty Bank & Trust
1670 E. 63rd St.
Kansas City, MO 64110
(816) 822-8560
ajmcdonald@libertybank.net
REGION I – African-American

NEW JERSEY
Preston Pinkett III
President & CEO
City National Bank of New Jersey
900 Broad Street
Newark, NJ 07102
(973) 624-0865
(973) 624-1879 Fax
ppinkett@citynatbank.com
REGION II – African-American

NEW YORK
Preston Pinkett III
President & CEO
City National Bank of New Jersey
382 W. 125th St.
New York, NY 10027
(212) 865-4763
ppinkett@citynatbank.com
REGION II – African-American

NORTH CAROLINA
James H. Sills III President & CEO
Mechanics & Farmers Bank
P. O. Box 1932
Durham, N. C. 27702
(919) 687-7800,X-816
(910) 687-7821 FAX
Jim.Sills@mfbonline.com
REGION I – African-American

OKLAHOMA
Steve Riff
President & CEO
First State Bank of Porter
P. O. Box 250
Locust Grove, OK 74352
(918) 479-5001
(918) 483-3362 Fax
steveriff@valornet.com
REGION I – Native American

PENNSYLVANIA
Evelyn F. Smalls
President & CEO
United Bank of Philadelphia
30 S. 15th Street, 12th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 351-4600 X105
(215) 231-3673 Fax
esmalls@unitedbankofphiladelphia.com

REGION II – African-American

SOUTH CAROLINA
John Kreighbaum
President and CEO
South Carolina Community Bank
P. O. Box 425
1545 Sumter Street
Columbia, S.C. 29202
(803) 733-8100, X1104
(803) 254-0150 Fax
REGION I – African-American

TENNESSEE 
Deborah A. Cole
President & CEO
Citizens Bank
1917 Heiman Street
Nashville, TN 37208
(615) 327-9787 
(615) 329-4843 Fax
dcole@bankcbn.com
REGION I – African-American

Jesse Turner, Jr.
President & CEO
Tri-State Bank of Memphis
180 S. Main
P. O. Box 2007
Memphis, TN 38101
(901) 525-0384
(901) 526-8608 Fax
lshaw@tristatebank.com
REGION I – African-American

TEXAS 
Ignacio Urrabazo, Jr.
President
Commerce Bank
5800 San Dario Street
Laredo, TX 78041
(956) 724-2424
(956) 728-8247
iurrabazo@ibc.com
REGION IV – Hispanic
John Scroggins
President & CEO
Unity National Bank
2602 Blodgett Street
Houston, TX 77004
(713) 387-7401
(713) 387-5040 Fax
jscroggins@unitybanktexas.com
REGION IV – African-American

Nativido Lozano III
Vice President
International Bank of Commerce
P. O. Drawer 1359
1200 San Bernardo Avenue
Laredo, TX 78040
(956) 722-7611
(956) 726-6692 Fax
nlozano@ibc.com
REGION IV – Hispanic

Lee Reed
Sr. Vice President
International Bank of Commerce
1600 Ruben Torres Blvd.
Brownsville, TX 78526
(956) 547-1019
(956) 547-1029 Fax
lreed@ibc.com
REGION IV – Hispanic

VIRGINIA 
Kelvin G. Perry
President
First State Bank
PO Box 6400,201 N. Union Street
Danville, VA 24541
(434) 792-0198
(434) 792-4978 Fax
Kperry@efirststatebank.com
REGION II – African-American

WISCONSIN
Seaway Bank & Trust Company
645 East 87th Street
Chicago, IL 60619
(773) 487-4800
(773) 487-0452 Fax
execdesk@seawaybank.us
REGION III – African-American

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- To launch the new instrumental program at San Bernardino Valley College, a Summer Band has been formed, comprised of SBVC students and area high schoolers.

Valley College hasn’t had a band program for about 15 years, and Professor of Music Margaret Worsley was hired in January to get the instrumental music program up and running.

“This will be no easy feat, as none of our former repertoire (music) or instruments remain, and starting from scratch isn’t cheap,” she said. “But, we’ve got to begin somewhere, and a Summer Band seems as good a place as any! No audition was required to join the band, simply a humble amount of experience on an instrument. This session, we’ve welcomed current students at Valley, as well as local high school students looking to keep up their chops during the summer.”

Worsley says the Humanities Department is “very excited” to bring back the instrumental program, adding, “We are presently writing curriculum so that instrumentalist music majors will soon have a large ensemble to participate in, as fulfillment of their degree requirements. Our future dreams are big, and include outreach and involvement with local high schools and community players. A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step, and that first baby step is Summer Band. I’m looking to start a Community Band in the fall, which will rehearse once a week.”

The Summer Band rehearses on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 to 5 p.m. This summer, they are sight-reading and focusing on American pieces. For information on future performances, please visit www.valleycollege.edu.

While an audition for participation is not required, there is an audition for seating. Any-one looking to participate in the instrumental music program or Summer Band can email Worsley at mworsley@valleycollege.edu.

RIVERSIDE, CA- Several members of the 2016 Guide Right Kappa League Mentoring Program were selected by the Riverside Alumni Chapter (RAC) of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. to attend its annual Kappa Kamp summer enrichment program in Dallas, Texas.  The program, which is for young males between the ages of 12 through 16, was held at Paul Quinn College from June 5 through June 17, 2016.  Local high school students Blake Gilmore, Timothy Bolden and Agyei Butler each received sponsorships from RAC Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. to cover their participation, room and board.

Since 1996 Kappa Kamp has provided young males throughout the United States leadership training and experience, college readiness and motivation.  The program curriculum aims to strengthen critical thinking skills, while promoting character development, improved communication, motivation, goal setting and business planning.  This summer’s enrichment activities for campers included a visit to a local church, a tour of the Dallas Police Department’s headquarters, and sporting events at the Texas Rangers Baseball Club and Dallas Cowboys football stadium.

For more information about RAC Kappa Alpha Psi Guide Right Kappa League Mentoring Program contact Zack Stewart at Stew2z@aol.com.

Cool Cass

By Lue Dowdy

Smile! Take Three! Quiet on the set! Let’s Go! Just a few call out words that are used when on a live set. This week Cool Cass, the videographer, is WHAT IT DO.

In the entertainment industry you have to make so many connections in order to get your music out there. Artists must add visual which leads to what they call a music video. It’s a beautiful relationship that comes alive on film between the artist and the videographer. Here is more on the Cool Cass the Videographer!

Despite accessibility to technology, capturing today’s short attention spanned audience has proven to be much more challenging than film makers (enthusiast and pro’s alike) anticipated. These challenges ultimately force the requirement of storyteller purist Cool Cass and he has flourished under the new-leveled playing field. His robust background stems from a sports oriented family which undoubtedly led to playing college football in California; however, added ingredients like his service in the military and 2-year stay overseas further push the boundaries of storytelling that one is just not accustomed to seeing.

Ever since cutting ties with network marketing venture that proved semi-successful, Cool Cass has been applying knowledge gained from these experiences to the art of storytelling through music and video. He continuously showcases his ability to translate visions over a multitude of genres delivering smash hit videos such as, “Talk 2 You” and “Girl With The Tattoo” for Oakland, CA superstar Young Gully and “Wutz The Name” for Queen of Rock and Flow, Shirlee Temper.

Cool Cass takes pride in furthering the journey of self-development and enjoys the company of individuals with comparable traits. Need some video work done at an affordable rate? Contact COOL CASS now!

Until next week L’zzzz!

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- By following her dream of becoming a law enforcement official, Evelyn Calderon hopes to serve as an inspiration to her baby daughter, Isla.

“I definitely want to be a role model for her,” she said. “I want her to be not just where I am but even more successful. I am going to support her as my mother supported me.”

Calderon recently graduated from San Bernardino Valley College’s Police Academy and has already been hired by the Arcadia Police Department. Before heading to the academy, Calderon was a standout on the soccer team at A.B. Miller High School in Fontana, and had continued success, beginning in 2009, as part of the soccer program at Valley College.

“I had a great experience at Valley, with education as well as soccer,” she said. “We were back-to-back league champions and state champions as well. I had an injury, and I received so much support form the whole athletic staff and coaches and teachers. My coaches gave me the biggest push to get through everything, and everyone I came into contact with at Valley was so supportive.”

Calderon still holds the scoring record at Valley College, and her skills on and off the field helped her secure a full-ride scholarship to Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York.

“I was born and raised in California, so it was an adjustment, but it was fairly easy in a way because I went with my best friend, Angela Young, who also went to Valley,” Calderon said. “It made it easier to go with someone. I always liked the fast life so it was a fit for me, and definitely fun.”

She planned on majoring in criminal justice, but when the program was discontinued, she switched to political science. She always had her eye on training with the Police Academy, but put that plan on hold until after her daughter was born in 2015. Once she enrolled, Calderon spent six months in the academy, doing everything from physical endurance tests to learning how to operate emergency vehicles to writing memos, where every sentence and period was critiqued. You either make it through or you don’t, and Calderon excelled.

“It feels like a big accomplishment,” she said. “It’s something I finally accomplished, my lifetime goal and dream. To be able to provide my daughter with a better life is very fulfilling.”

Calderon is now joining the Arcadia Police Department, where she will immediately begin patrolling and is one of only a few women on the force. She is excited to begin this new chapter in her life and is thankful for the people who helped her along the way.

“Valley gave me the biggest push to where I am today,” Calderon said. “Once I started going there, with all the support I received, I knew it was going to help me achieve my lifetime goal. Without Valley, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- The Sensational Social Lites of the Inland Empire will be celebrating 60 years of service on Saturday, August 20 at the National Orange Show in San Bernardino.  Earlier this year, these amazing women were awarded the Citizens of Achievement Award from the San Bernardino League of Women Voters.  They continue to raise funds for scholarships for the youth, perform community service, and engage in civic causes to help enhance the lives of others in the communities in which they live and serve. One of the well-known program under this organization is the Beautillion program which is designed to uplift young men and assist them in preparing for furthering their education beyond high school. 

Guests to gala should plan to wear formal attire and enjoy dinner and dancing to a live band. Tickets are $60 per person.  Doors open at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m.   For more information, go to www.sociallitesinc.com or contact Bettye Brewster, President at (951) 204-0022 or bettyebrewster@yahoo.com or Edna Noble at (909) 888-3788 or Helen Thomas at (909) 854-7730 or Socialites2@msn.com.

Loe Coleman

By Lou Coleman

I tell you it is amazing what some people will do to run away from God knowing darn well one cannot run away from God. God is Omnipresent. The tragedy of this and all methods of running away from God is that you really can’t run away from Him and at some point you will run into Him for [Romans 14:11] tells us that, “Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess…” So forget about it, there is no where you can go and God not know.

I tell you doing the right thing in life take guts and priority.  But many people will not do the right thing because they think they have much more to gain by doing the wrong thing. Jonah thought the same way. God had given him an assignment to go to Nineveh. He was to go to this city and proclaim, “Thus saith the Lord,” because God was ready to bring down His judgment to the city, but Jonah decided that he wasn’t going to do it, just like so many of us, we decide that we will not obey God’s command so Jonah made up his mind that he would run away.  Jonah felt that God should just wipe out the entire population in Nineveh. His feelings were that they did not deserve to live. Jonah was determined that he was not going to the city of Nineveh so he ran away to Joppa for passage on a ship and found one that was headed for the city of Tarshish. He was running from God. But little did Jonah know that you can run, but you can’t hide.

I tell you just like Jonah we find all sorts of excuses not to obey God’s voice. But I want you to know that to God there is no excuse that you can give Him for not fulfilling the call that He has placed on your life. So stop with the excuses and stop running from God!  Change your excuses by doing what God has called you to do and run to Him.  Make up your mind to love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul and to serve him.  Jesus said the only kind of love acceptable to Him is obedience to His every command – obeying His Word in all things and at all times! With that said…. Well Boo-Boo, it seems that you are out of options… You cannot run from God so you might as well run to Him! Fear God and keep His commandments for this is “the whole duty of man.”  This is man’s reason for being, his “prime directive” for his existence. And this is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge. The basis by which we know that we know and love God. Having taken “everything” into consideration not just from what may be observed in life “under the sun” but from wisdom given by revelation as well the conclusion of the “whole” matter!  In view of the coming Judgment – in which every work will be judged – Whether it is good or evil…  You can run but you cannot hide!

Scripture Reading:  [Ecclesiastes 12:13] [John 14:15; John 15:10; 1 John 5:3] [1 John 2:3-4; 5:3] [Proverbs 1:7; 9:10] [John 14:15]  [Ecclesiastes 2:3,9] [1 King 4:29] [Ecclesiastes 3:17; 11:9] [Acts 17:30-31] [Romans 2:16]  [2 Corinthians 5:10]