Local

Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Dr. Margaret Pleasant Douroux, an internationally acclaimed and award-winning Gospel songwriter, will be the guest speaker at Temple MB Church for their Mother’s Day Service.  Dr. Douroux’s songs include “Give Me a Clean Heart” and “If It Has Not Been for the Lord on My Side.” Our service will begin at 10:30am, Sunday May 13, 2018. Come out and be blessed! Please invite your family and friends. Temple’s address is 1583 W. Union St. San Bernardino, CA. The church office number is (909) 888-2038. Raymond W. Turner, Senior Pastor

Donisha Prendergast, Granddaughter of the late Bob Marley, is taking legal action against Rialto Police Department for Burglary Accusation

RIALTO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Just weeks ago was the Kaya Reggae Fest, which took place at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino. Donisha Prendergast, 33, was in attendance. She is the granddaughter of the late Bob Marley and daughter of the Melody Makers’ member/dancer, Sharon Marley. Prendergast is suing the Rialto Police Department after false burglary accusation.

Prendergast has secured an Air BnB for herself and three friends, who were also Black, but while they were leaving the property for check-out, Prendergast says that they were greeted by four officers who were responding to a call from a neighbor on Neighborhood Watch about a burglary.

Prendergast captured the event that took place on film, which was posted to her Instagram page. She also called the property owner to explain what was going on.

Film director Kells Fyffe-Marshall who was also present detailed what happened in a Facebook post she uploaded last Tuesday.

She stated, “As you can see 3 of us were Black. About 10 seconds later we were surrounded by seven cop cars. The officers came out of their cars demanding us to put our hands in the air. They informed us that there was also a helicopter tracking us. They locked down the neighborhood and had us standing in the street. Why? A neighbor across the street saw three Black people packing luggage into their car and assumed we were stealing from the house. She then called the police. At first we joked about the misunderstanding and took photos and videos along the way.”

Not only was the group held up after checking out, but they were then detained at the airport.

“They were detained long enough to figure out if that was true [that they were renting an Airbnb],” Harden says. “They were allowed to move about [during the detention] and they filmed the whole thing… The officers figured out pretty quickly that this was probably an incident where they were renting a room, but they had to make sure.”

According to Prendergast’s legal team, they planned to announce an update on the lawsuit Wednesday, May 9. Rialto Police Department received notice on Monday, May 7 that there was “pending legal action,” although it was unsure of what action was being taken. 

My hand was made strong, by the hands of the Almighty. None of them can stop the time. We won’t stand aside and look. We are greater than they wanted us to believe. #belove #buildcomeunity #mightcannotdefeatright #eachoneteachone #standuplove #emancipateyourself #wehavetherighttoberight

A post shared by Donisha Prendergast (@iamdonisha) on Apr 30, 2018 at 2:52pm PDT

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- San Bernardino Valley College will host the 7th Annual Inland Empire Media Academy (IEMA) Student Film Festival from Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6. This weekend-long event is an opportunity for high school, community college, and university students to present their films and videos to a wider audience. Members of the campus and community are invited to enjoy the film screenings, guest speakers, and food vendors at this free event.

The event kicks off Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m. with a special discussion featuring Lalo Alcaraz, an acclaimed cartoonist who contributed to the Disney-Pixar hit “Coco.” This lecture will be followed by a screening of the film “Coco,” which will also be free and open to the public. 

Saturday’s activities include a university transfer fair, a media vendor fair, and more industry guest speakers, including H. Lee Peterson, whose credits include being an assistant editor for “The Little Mermaid” and lead film editor for “Aladdin,” “Pocahontas,” and more. 

Throughout the weekend, screenings of student-created films will take place in the Library Viewing Room on the SBVC campus. These films were submitted by local high school, community college, and university students, and were selected from numerous submissions by a film festival committee. From horror and suspense to action and drama, these films vary in genre and provide a rich pallet of unique concepts and perspectives. The goal of the film screening is to bring together a community of filmmakers who share the common goal of education and artistic expression.

The event culminates on Sunday with the awarding of prizes to participating filmmakers, including awards for best direction, actor and actress, cinematography, writing, editing, and more. Awards will be decided by a jury of industry professionals, and will be given to enhance student films by supplying added financial backing to their projects. These prizes, which vary from camera equipment to a cash award, are intended to decrease the financial burdens for students who are creating films while going to school. 

The IEMA Student Film Festival will give talented students a sound board from which to be heard and motivate them to further delve into their creative craft. Entry is open to the public and free of charge.

For more information on the event, participants, and films, visit www.valleycollege.edu/iema.

By Manny Otiko

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- I hate to admit it, but I have been sucked into the Kanye West-Donald Trump media storm. At first, I didn’t want to play a role in this manufactured event, but there are some important marketing, media and political lessons here.

West has always been a controversial figure. He’s a talented musician, who has won multiple Grammys. I bought two of his first CDs, back in the days when people bought CDs, and I enjoyed that his songs were different from the usual guns and blunts fare produced by other rappers. But in recent years, controversy has overwhelmed his talent.

There was the thing with Taylor Swift, the outrageous boasts and then the marriage to reality star Kim Kardashian. Several people in the industry have whispered that Kardashian’s reality TV antics are overshadowing West’s career and he has now been absorbed by the Kardashian clan. And more recently, West was hospitalized for “exhaustion” and rumored to be treated for a mental health condition. Now there is the sudden alliance with the Trump-MAGA crowd.  

This MAGA love happened just when West is promoting his new album. West comes from the showbiz world, where there’s no such thing as bad publicity. (Rapper 50 Cent once said that he didn’t mind some of the black gossip sites running stories about him being gay, because at least they were writing about him.)

West’s alleged alliance with Trump has news jacked social media and made him trend on Twitter, which is all great publicity for his album. This kind of publicity would cost you millions of dollars, and West just got it for free.

There is a history of people using outrageous antics to market their product. Madonna practically perfected it. I’ve never heard a song by rapper Azealia Banks, but her history of making crazy statements landed her in Playboy.

But there is a danger that West’s antics will alienate his base. And that’s already happening. He’s already lost millions of Twitter followers. And West has been hit by abuse on Twitter as fans are horrified by his comments. He might be embraced by MAGA lords, but they’re not going to buy his album or go to his concerts.

Part of the problem is because he’s allying himself with the Trump administration, which is one of the whitest supremacist presidencies in several decades. As ESPN’s Jemele Hill said, Trump has surrounded himself with open racists. He’s also implemented anti-immigrant, and anti-Muslim policies and referred to African countries as “sh*thole countries.” Even the phrase Make America Great Again (MAGA) is racist, because Trump supporters think America was great in the 1950s, when white males ran everything, and people of color had no representation.

Is this what West wants to ally himself with? If so, it’s no wonder his fans and management team have bailed on him.  It’s also ironic that West is getting praised by FOX News, a network that hates hip hop. FOX often tells entertainers that they shouldn’t talk about politics but loves to embrace Hollywood types if they have conservative views.

One of FOX’s arguments against Hollywood political commentators is they don’t know what they’re talking about. Well, that’s exactly the case with Kanye West! Just look at some of his statements:

• Kanye says he loves Trump and he is his brother, but he’s not political.
• He also once said that he doesn’t see the need to read books and bragged about not reading contracts.
• He also praised black conservative commentator Candace Owens, who said that police violence wasn’t a problem with the black community. She also called Black Lives Matter whiny. Owens appears on Alex Jones’ conspiracy show, Info Wars, which should be enough to kill her credibility. Jones has spent years denying that the Sandy Hook school shooting existed until he was sued by the parents of the children killed at the school.

African-Americans turning against West isn’t about group think. People are not rejecting him because he’s dallying with Republicans. They’re turning against him because he’s allying with racists and he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s not about left or right, it’s about right or wrong.

But good luck to Republicans with their embrace of Kanye. He’s a loose cannon and when he explodes again, it’s going to be your problem.

Manny Otiko is a media professional who is based in Southern California. Follow him @mannyotiko on Twitter. This column represents the views of the author, not California Black Media.

LOMA LINDA, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) patients were treated to a visit by Billboard’s country chart-topper Kane Brown on Monday, April 30. The 24-year-old stopped by several of the LLUCH units to meet with and encourage patients. 

He started out in the LLUCH Toyota Learning Center, playing games with patients and sharing stories with some students about his struggles in school, encouraging them to keep trying no matter their situation.

Brown then visited some of the LLUCH units, taking photos with excited fans, playing games with patients and sharing parts of his story.

LLUCH patient Jennifer Nguyen, 5, from Moreno Valley, was just one child who was excited to meet and talk with Brown. When Brown came into the room, Nguyen insisted on getting up out of bed, and couldn’t stop smiling as Brown talked with her about what made her happy. They ended the visit with a hug.

Brown’s visit was made possible by Inland Empire-based country radio station K-FROG 95.1 FM, which has a long-standing relationship with the hospital.

LLUCH Foundation representative, Tiffany Hoekstra, said she was grateful to K-FROG and Brown for making the day for patients and their families.

Izola Stewart

EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Izola Stewart, also known as “PP” was born in Texarkana Arkansas on March 9, 1942 to the union of Arthur and Queen Esther Davis.

At the age of 10, Izola moved from Texarkana with her family to San Bernardino, California. She attended Mill Elementary, Richardson Junior High and Pacific High School.

On August 29, 1959, Izola married the love her life Lawrence Thomas Stewart “LT”.  To this union five children were born.  They established an auto detail business in San Bernardino then in 1968 they moved their family business to Monrovia, California. Izola and her husband gave family and many others an opportunity to work at their detail shop.  

HER LEGACY     

Izola Stewart was a devoted wife, married to her husband for 40 years until his death. She was a loving, caring mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She was very kind, and gentle, always greeted you with a loving smile. She never gossiped or said harmful things to anyone.  Her heart was as pure as gold, her generosity was sincere. Her love for family was solid as a rock.  Everyone who knew her loved her.

Izola cared for her dad who had Alzheimer during his entire illness. When her mother became ill she moved her into her home in Monrovia, California. After her mother’s stroke, she moved back with her mother to San Bernardino California; where she could be closer to her physicians.  Whenever her mother’s great grandchildren were in town Izola would take her to wherever they played tennis in the Inland empire.  Both parents had Alzheimer Izola insisted on her parents being able to remain at home until the Lord called them home. Her parents Queen Ester and Arthur and her brother Henry Davis also preceded her in death.

She leaves to cherish her memories:  One Son Lawrence Thomas Stewart (Geneva) San Bernardino, CA, four daughters Yvonne Stewart, Monrovia, CA, Yvette Huddleston (Michael), Los Angeles, CA, Yolanda Stewart, Monrovia, CA, Monique Bryant (Eric), Rialto, CA, sister Dorothy Wisnieski, San Bernardino, CA and brother Arthur Lee Davis (Fredda), Walnut, CA; Seven grandchildren:  Ebonise Stewart, Jaden Gresham, Ashli Huddleston, Tiquan Martin, Antoine Bryant, Britney Bryant, Shalena Stewart and Sabrina Jackson and one great granddaughter Maliah Campbell, a host of nieces, nephews, in-laws, relatives and special friends.

Collective embarks on public education campaign about the role of District Attorneys

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- The ACLU of Southern California and Congregations Organized for Prophetic Engagement (COPE) as part of the “Hey, Meet Your DA!” campaign, are collaborating with groups across San Bernardino County to educate the community on the critical role of the District Attorney. The collective of organizations are hosting a town hall meeting to educate the public about the impact that District Attorneys have on a range of justice issues. The town hall comes after a similar event was convened with residents in Riverside County less than a month ago.

However, the collective group of San Bernardino organizations was troubled and disappointed that their local District Attorney would be so hesitant to meet with the community even after being offered alternative dates and declined an offer to participate even for a short time on the Monday, April 30 town hall meeting. “We need a District Attorney who will represent the community, not avoid them” says Rev. Samuel Casey, Executive Director of COPE.

The press conference and rally that came as a result of the dismissal of the District Attorney drew a crowd of 30 organizational leaders and community members who discussed existing justice issues in San Bernardino. The recurring chant heard from the crowd, led by Casey “It’s time to ReThink Public Safety!” an initiative led by COPE to promote responsible, restorative, and redemptive approaches to justice reform in schools and communities throughout the Inland Valley Region. “We must transform what public safety looks like to our community. We need the DA to prosecute killer cops especially when they are killing our young sons just as police murdered Dante Yarber in a Barstow Walmart.” stated Lanae Norwood from Institute Developing Equity, Advocacy, and Leadership (IDEAL.)

The collective now is focused on their town hall set for April 30^th in the City of Fontana. Their man goal is to discuss with community members solutions needed to reform the San Bernardino County criminal justice system and inform them about the role and duties of district Attorneys.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Bruce Atlas wants Inland Empire residents to refer to the Ontario Airport as “Our” Airport! Atlas, Chief Operations Officer of the Ontario International Airport, was the guest speaker at Monday’s Black Business Chamber Inland Empire (BBCIE) meeting.  

He spoke of the expected growth of the Inland Empire and of the planed airport expansion. He is enthusiastic about getting local businesses involved in the vender and contracting opportunities that come with the Airports growth.  Amy Goethals, the Liaison for The Ontario International Airport Small Disadvantaged Business Program, who was the other speaker, requested support in her quest to outreach and to otherwise accommodate the Airport working with local minority businesses. 

The BBCIE meets three times per month. BBCIE President, Tammy Martin-Ryles, says that the Chamber will continue to expose members to speakers who are able to educate, stimulate and facilitate opportunity.  

Bruce Atlas will be on Empire Talks Back (ETB) on Sunday, May 6 at 10 a.m. on KCAA 1050 AM, 102.3 FM and 106.5 FM. You can also watch the show live at kcaaradio.com.

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)-When author and playwright, T’ana Phelice, decided to branch out from the literary world to the stage atmosphere, her followers and others in the community would leave her plays feeling inspired. After her first stage production, ‘The Diamond Monologues’ she wanted to continue to put out work that would impact people’s lives for the better, and hence her next stage production ‘Pass the Cornbread’ was created.

‘Pass the Cornbread’, which debuted on Saturday, April 21 at the New Hope Christian Life Center in San Bernardino, is about six cousins who are trying to get to the truth. They are trying to get to truth about their life, purpose and self-worth. Sunday dinners is when the cousins gather around the table for some good ol’ cornbread and home-cooking to not only come together as a family, but to update each other on what’s happening in their individual lives. They each inspire each other in some way or another. Towards the end of the production the audience can feel the redemption that each character has gone through.

The cast consists of six dynamic actors: T’ana Phelice, Audrica McPeters, Tiffany Smith-Brooks, Mike Braswell, Queene Esther and Nycce Blingsly. This production was very unique, not just from the storyline, but for the mere fact that each story was REAL! This is the first time that Phelice casted a play without a script. Each cast member gave her their testimony and the storyline was created it. 

If you missed this production, there will be more dates in the future. Follow T’ana Phelice on all social networks or visit her website at www.tanaphelice.com for upcoming events and updates. 

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Synergy is created when two or more come together to produce a result greater than the sum of their individual effects.

The District held its second Synergy Day at San Gorgonio High School on Wednesday, March 21.

Synergy Day teaches students how to be more compassionate, build leadership and communication skills and have a greater sense of self. During the daylong event, students learned to create more authentic relationships, so they can unite in a common goal of making their school campus a better place for everyone.

More than 65 students from different backgrounds, social groups and grade levels came together in the San Gorgonio gym to participate in team-building exercises and personal experiences. Students practiced active listening skills, discovered how much they have in common with students outside their usual social circles and most importantly, learned to respect themselves and others in their daily interactions with friends and strangers.

“I hope this small group of students will share what they learned, by word of mouth and by example, with their friends and those students will share it with their friends and take flight to create a positive, long-lasing shift in our school culture for years to come,” said San Gorgonio counselor LaShawn Jackson.

Synergy Days are scheduled for all SBCUSD high schools.