WSSN Stories

By Antonio R. Harvey | California Black Media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- While residing in the Easter Hill Village public-housing project in Richmond, California during her younger days, Cynthia Marshall’s mother put two books in her hands — a publication of mathematics and the Bible to guide her through her life’s journey to success.

For a young person living less than 18 miles east of San Francisco, those two books became the important focal point of Marshall’s life and career in telecommunications. They lifted her out of despair and a constant element of crime.

Now that she is the Chief Executive Officer of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, the professional sports team is discovering how the books still play an integral role in the task she has acquired. Marshall is an effective problem solver and has a strong Christian faith. 

“She put those two books in my hands at an early age and said, ‘If you keep your head in these books they will get you out of poverty,’” Marshall said of the advice given by her mother. “That’s what I did. When people ask me what is the secret to your success, I tell them it’s those two books. I kept my head and eyes in both of them because that is what I was told to do.” 

Today, Marshall, who retired from AT&T as its senior vice president of Human Resources and chief Diversity Officer, is not only the first Black female CEO of an NBA franchise, she is the first woman ever to hold the position.

At a time when the “Me Too” movement has rapidly picked up the pace, Marshall was specifically brought in to address and subdue an alleged culture of sexual violations against women within the Mavericks’ organization.

The Mavericks’ owner, Mark Cuban, announced that there would be in-house investigations, and then introduced Marshall as the interim CEO who would lead the independent review as well as provide solutions to ensure women work in a respectful environment. “The CEO interim tag has since been removed,” Marshall said.

Cuban’s decision to introduce Marshall into the corporate world of sports also brings hope to other African Americans and women who would like to follow her path. 

“I think for our community it means that we have opportunities, it means somebody like Mark Cuban saw the value and didn’t care if I was a man, woman, Black, White, or Asian. He didn’t care,” Marshall said. “He wanted somebody equipped to do a job and it just so happens he called upon a Black woman to do it. He made the call. It says a lot about our society. Hopefully, we’ll have more people like him that will follow suit and get beyond gender and race.”

Thanks to her mother providing her a math book and Bible, Marshall’s climb to leadership roles has been one of determination. She earned every position she attained since graduating from the University of California, Berkeley, where she was the first Black cheerleader on the campus and earned degrees in Business Administration and Human Resources Management.

Marshall started at AT&T in 1981, holding positions in operations, human resources, networking, engineering, planning, and regulatory and external affairs. She was named senior vice president of Human Resources in 2012, and then was appointed Chief Diversity Officer as a dual role in 2015. Black Enterprise listed Marshall as one of the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in corporate America the same year. She retired from AT&T in 2017 to start her own consulting firm.

Marshall was honored on the California Senate and Assembly floors at the State Capitol on April 19, 2018 in Sacramento, a place where she spent time advocating “good public policy” for AT&T, she said.

Loretta Walker, who worked alongside Marshall at AT&T before retiring as vice president of Employment Engagement Communication, said the Mavericks’ hiring of Marshall “makes sense.”

“From the standpoint of looking at an established institution in AT&T that has gotten a lot of recognition for diversity, they (the Mavericks) have gained a lot by allowing her to bring in her expertise,” Walker said. “I know I’ve been blessed. I know I’ve never experienced anything like (sexual harassment) in my lifetime working for a company like At&T.”

Cynthia Marshall extended the interview with California Black Media to touch on her duties and vision as an executive for the Dallas Mavericks.

CBM: After you took the CEO position for the Mavericks, you said that the ‘system failed’ under the previous leadership. What parameters have you put in place and have you made any progress?

Marshall: Yes, we have made progress. We put together a 100-day plan and we had to start with telling people that we are about zero tolerance. We put together a ‘respect-in-the-workplace’ training, harassment training, updated our code of conduct, and I started sitting down with the employees one by one. One of the first things that I did was roll out a set of values and hashtags. The hashtags are #RespectAtWork and #PerfectOurCRAFTS. The C.R.A.F.T.S. are our values — character, respect, authenticity, fairness, teamwork, and safety. When I say safety, it’s physical and emotional safety.

Those are the things we are trying to model in the workplace. And of course, we’re rolling out new policies, and we have brought in a new senior vice president of human resources, who is also a Black woman. We added a new position, a compliance officer, who can focus on investigations, misconducts, and setting the right tone.

Our leadership team has gone from no women to at least five women and three people of color. We’re making progress and that matters only because diversity matters. All the research says you make better decisions when you have a diverse group at the table.

CBM: You said that you first declined the offer to work for the Mavericks. But then changed your mind after talking to a couple people within the organization. What changed?

Marshall: First of all, they were asking ‘are you the new woman who is our new boss and Mark Cuban’s new boss?’ I was like wow, for him to tell people that he’s already excited about me coming in. The smart man that he is, obviously, he already did his homework and felt that I could help with this issue. Then they told me that this was not a workplace that’s really inclusive of women the way it should be. We were addressing everything, including pay disparities, which I am happy that we don’t have a big gender disparity around pay. Some things were done right, but clearly, some things were not done right. So we’re changing that culture. Those women said, ‘We need you. We absolutely need you. This place needs to focus more on women.’ We’re doing that.

CBM: Do you know that what you are doing could be a blueprint for the NBA, the entire league itself? How do you feel about that?

Marshall: Exactly. When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called me to welcome me to the NBA, and he was so welcoming, to have him call me and send me a huge message that the whole league is watching and dedicated to getting this right, yes, hopefully, we can lay out a blueprint. So, if any other organization has an issue we can lay out the template on how to address it.

CBM: This is a great opportunity for you. Do you know what this could do for your career and others who want to follow your path from where you started to where you are now?

Marshall: You know, I worked for AT&T for 36 years. So now I am committed to this. But my ultimate dream is to lead a small college. Whether it be a rural college, Christian college or historic Black college. I want to lead an institution that needs a lot of help, where I can call upon all my friends to help for free, and that we can give those students a good education for free. That’s my vision. Those are the kind of calls that I want to get.

 

 

 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Donald Smith was born on June 24, 1945 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is the 7th of 9 children born to Oscar Smith Sr. and Mamie Louise Hill Smith of Yazoo City, Mississippi. The family attended Calvary United Methodist Church and the York Street Methodist Church. Donald and his siblings were very active in Church activities and recited biblical stories at Church functions.

He attended Heberle Elementary School, Bloom Junior High, and graduated from Central High in 1963. As a young man Donald moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and was quickly drafted in the Army in 1964 where he served 3 years. Returning to Cincinnati, Ohio he continued his education to graduate from the University of Cincinnati.

In the following years, he met his future wife Maria. They were married and gave birth to his first child, Donald Jr. Donald moved his family to Houston, Texas where his second son David was born. There he managed a large restaurant chain and received a corporate recognition award. Donald was very disciplined and passionate and thrived as a successful entrepreneur for many

years. In his later years, he became a teacher and state compliance official for a reputable charter school in San Bernardino, California. Most recently he retired early 2018 after 15 years of service at the PAL Center.

On April 21, 2018, Donald’s journey was complete, and he transitioned to be home with the Lord. Donald is survived by sons Donald Jr., David and his wife Kelly, two granddaughters Naima and Nalaya, sister Helen Witt, brothers Douglas and Terry Smith, and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family. Preceding him are his wife Maria, father Oscar Smith Sr., mother Mamie, and siblings Turner, Annie, Oscar, Sylvester and Dewey Smith.

 

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Talented Youth is What It Do! It’s almost that time for the 2^nd“Show It Off I.E. Youth Talent Competition” presented by LUE Productions on Saturday, October 27, 2018. The show will be bringing awareness to Child Abuse and Human Trafficking.

If you can sing, rap, dance, act, recite poetry or spoken word, play an instrument or have any sort of unique talent, then here’s your opportunity!

Please don’t wait, text now to reserve your spot to (909) 567-1000. Sign –ups are on a first come first serve basis. Prizes consist of $500 to the winner including the following: A trophy; feature in the newspaper, an interview, and a photoshoot.

The following rules apply: Must reside in the Inland Empire, must be 19 years old or younger; and must audition. Auditions will be Saturday, June 30 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Norman Feldheym Central Library located at 555 W 6^thStreet in San Bernardino. If selected a $25 registration fee will be required. Let the community see your gift.

 

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- “A hardhead makes a soft behind.”  Now, if you don’t know what that means, you just keep on doing you. Keep on doing what you want, when you want. You will find out sooner than later what it means.  Talking ‘bout it’s your thang, you do what you want to do.”  Hmm mhmm… keep on Mr. “My Prerogative,” you will soon find out that it’s really “God’s Prerogative” not yours!

You know in [Genesis Chapter 27] four people song the same song that you are singing, “I Did It My Way,” Esau, Jacob, Isaac and Rebecca. But in the end they all came up empty and paid a high price for their selfishness. Saul who was the Lord’s chosen king for the Israelites.  Rather than trusting that God knew best, Saul’s ego took first place in his heart. When it did, “Doing Things His Way”—became his undoing. I tell you, there is a real danger in the “I Did It My Way” philosophy. Do not be deceived, God will not be mocked.  What you sow is what you will reap.

Listen, in the book of Judges the last thing Joshua did was told the people, ‘You choose how you are going to live your life. And they choose to do it “their way.”  And what a mess they made of it.  Over a 350 year period, they went through seven cycles.  Each cycle was worse than the one before.  The Israelites main problem was they always thought they knew better.   “Everyone did as they saw fit.” Each person saw themselves as being in charge. Each one said, “I am in charge. It is my life. It is my decision. I am the boss. I am in control.”Israel, lived like she had no king. She lived like there was no one to whom she was responsible. That was the problem. God was not acknowledged as King. He was not served as King. He was not worshiped as King. He was not obeyed as King, and because of thatthe result was anarchy, tragedy. Mama always did say, “A hardhead makes a soft behind!”

The conclusion of the whole matter: God says, “He will not tolerate blatant ungodliness. He will not tolerate stubborn, hardhead stiff-necked spirits any longer. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” [Isaiah 1:18]. Return .O backsliding children, for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you a shepherd [Jeremiah 3:14-15].

I tell you, wisdom is the principal thing, but in all your getting get an understanding.” [Proverbs 4:7]. Love wisdom, and she will make you great. Embrace her, and she will bring you honor.” [Proverbs 4:7-8]. “Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.” [Proverbs 15:22-32]. For the Bible says it is of God’s mercy that we are not consumed. It is by His goodness that we are led to repentance. It is by His intercession that we are delivered. It is by His grace that we are sustained. It is of His love that we have been drawn to Him. It is because of His everlasting arms being under us that we are kept. It is by His faith that we are saved. It is by His blood that we are cleansed. It is by His righteousness that we are clothed and it is by His indwelling Spirit that we are filled and by His power that we are kept.

“If you listen to advice and are willing to learn, one day you will be wise.” [Proverbs 19:20]

 

 

By Charlene Muhammad | California Black media

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Two African-Americans have been appointed to the California Complete Count Committee for the 2020 federal census. Governor Edmund Brown Jr. announced creation of the diverse 25-member committee on Friday, April 13.  The panel of community members will guide outreach to help ensure every Californian is counted in the upcoming census. 

“It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census,” said Governor Brown. 

Regina Brown Wilson of Sacramento brings her skills as executive director and chair of California Black Media, and a former statewide education and faith-based outreach manager for Census 2010. Wilson is a graduate of Wilberforce University with a degree in communications. 

“I thank the governor for getting a jump start on the census and understanding all that is at stake in the form or representation and resources. In particular, the African-American community has been a vulnerable population and it’s my desire to ensure this community and other hard to count communities are informed, organized and engaged for the 2020 Census,” said Wilson. 

Alex Johnson of Los Angeles, managing director at Californians for Safety and Justice, has served as executive director at Children’s Defense Fund-California. He was assistant senior deputy for education and public safety in the office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, where he also served as deputy for education and public safety. 

“Honored to be appointed by Governor Jerry Brown to serve as a member of the California Complete Count Committee. This body is tasked with devising an outreach strategy for the 2020 Census and ensuring that ALL Californians are counted by the federal government,” said Jones on his Facebook page.

Johnson was an attorney at the New York City Department of Education and an assistant district attorney in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office.

Johnson is president of the Los Angeles County Board of Education and a member of the Arts for Incarcerated Youth Network Board of Directors and the Wiley Center for Speech and Language Development Board. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from the American University College of Law.  The California Complete Count Committee will be coming together to have its first public meeting in May.

 

 

By Lue Dowdy

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Quality Entertainment in San Bernardino is WHAT IT DO! On Saturday, April 28 from 8.m. to midnight, come enjoy comedy, live funk music, Rap and Hip Hop, R&B, poetry, live interviews, a fashion show, shopping, food and drinks.

LUE Productions, along with a few other local entertainment entities, have come together to provide a wonderful evening of entertainment. Our team is all about comfortability. You will feel the positive vibes soon as you walk through the door. Zorbas Lounge is a hidden jewel in San Bernardino.  It’s such a beautiful venue with amazing people helping to run it, like my girl Monibee Henley. The event will be hosted by Comedian Mac Rome and Queen LUE of LUE Productions. 

Make it a date night or a night with friends.

Get your $10 ticket now. Remember they will be $20 at the door. Get there between 8 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and receive a FREE raffle ticket.

A few items we’ll be raffling off include: drinks, Improv tickets, dinner for one drink not included ($10 minimum), BBW/Plus Size Competition ticket for 1 and more.

For more information, please text (909) 567.1000. Until next time L’s!

 

‘The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth’ presents the authentic, raw truths that men face in their everyday realities

By Naomi K. Bonman

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- How many women empowerment events do you run into? Probably more than you can count, right? Now how many men empowerment events do you come across? Yeah, not that much. When it comes to our men, especially our Black men, there are not many outlets out there that give them a voice. This is why playwright Karen Roberson created ‘The Penis Monologues: The Long Hard Truth’. She wanted to create a space for men to voice their concerns and feelings.

I recently attended one of the rehearsals for the upcoming show on May 19^thand May 20^th, and the rehearsals put me in awe, so I only know that the actual production is going to be remarkable! The writing of this monologue is astounding! Each cast member is in touch with character because they can relate to the stories in their everyday lives. The stories that are in this stage production are REAL and RAW. There is no sugarcoating with this one and it all comes from the male’s perspective.

After the rehearsal, Mrs. Karen Roberson sat down with me where we chatted on her inspirations to bring this creation to life and where she envisions to take it in the future.

What inspired you to write this production?

What inspired me to write ‘The Penis Monologues’ is that I feel like our men lack a platform for them. As I was telling you earlier, I can easily go to a woman’s empowerment situation like almost every weekend. There is nothing going on for our men; there is nothing that they have where they can say, ‘We are a brotherhood, we are together, and we are going to empower each other; and we are going to uplift each other, and we are going to talk about some serious issues so that we can become better.

Men don’t have that. I’m not talking about an every now and then men’s conference, I’m talking about what do they have. And so, with ‘The Penis Monologues’ I hope that I can start a movement; a movement for men. A brand for them.

After the stage production is all said in done, what else do you envision for ‘The Penis Monologues’ or for our men in general?

I would like to do conferences, tours and panel discussions. ‘The Penis Monologues’ goes way beyond the stage.

From being able to witness just a snippet of what to except from the show tonight during rehearsal, I can tell that each male resonated with their character, so for casting how did you pick out each character?  

Well, for Reggie and Idrees, the dual monologues, I wrote those specifically for them. But for casting, I’m the type of person that is a feeler, I like to feel and be moved. If I’m not moved when I’m casting, then you don’t have a job. I need to feel it in my soul and these guys just came in and blew me away!

What can people except from this show? I know you did 6 previous shows last year, which all sold out, so what can we except? Did you had some twists and turns this go around?

I did add some elements of surprise. Every time I do the show I try to elevate it a little bit more. If you are a person that is returning to see the show, you’re going to see something a little different. I just feel like that’s our way of keeping our audience on their toes and looking forward to seeing what we have.

We’re going to take you on a rollercoaster ride! These guys are going to strap you in for an hour and 30 minutes and you are going to have to hear what they say, but I promise you when you [women] leave that you will have a greater appreciation for men, specifically our Black men.

And when men leave, they will feel empowered and knowing that they have a voice and a platform to be heard. That’s what ‘The Penis Monologues’ is about.

How can people get tickets?

People can get tickets at thelonghardtruth.brownpapertickets.com. They can follow us on social media @thelonghardtruth on Instagram and Mahogany Girl Productions on Instagram and Facebook. You can also get tickets from the website at mgproductionsllc.com. All the information is there on the website and you can also read up on the cast and you can see what upcoming events that we have.

But listen, I want Uncle Steve Harvey to see this. I need my Aunty Oprah to see this and I just need some heavy hitters to really rally behind me to help get this on the global platform where it needs to be. If the Vagina Monologues became huge like it was, I know clearly that the messages that we’re sending can spread like wildfire!  

Can you see yourself making a film from ‘The Penis Monologues’?

Yes, I do! We are in talks about film. I would love to speak with Showtime, HBO or Starz to do an actual special. I’m excited. There is no limit to what we could do. We’re going to take it to the stage, to the big screen, to the community—everywhere that it needs to hit the people, so they can be changed, uplifted and empowered. That is where this message needs to go.

As we wrap things up, I know you said this is the first play that you have done, so how was it being behind the scenes as the director and writer than from being in the spotlight? Which one do you like better?

I know right! I really like this side because I feel like, don’t get me wrong I love acting and I love singing as well but when you become the playwright and you become the creator, now I have the voice, the control and the creativity to create the things that I want people to hear and see. So, I’m really like that and it has inspired me to continue to create other content to keep bringing the people. You can always except it REAL and RAW.

I feel like it’s easy to have those feel good conversations, right? But what about the long-hard truth? What about those uncomfortable conversations that no one needs to have? So, you can always except me to keep it REAL.

Awesome. I’m looking forward to more!  

The show is on May 19 and May 20 at Cal State Dominguez Hills where I’m an alumnus of their theater department, so it’s always fun bringing my stuff home and allowing the community to come out. We don’t always have to go to Hollywood to see good quality stuff. I can put my stuff in the hood and let them come and be blessed by it as if we were anywhere else.

I’m happy that it is at Dominguez. We’re going to have a good time. Come ready! All I can say be ready for an unforgettable ride.

‘The Penis Monologues’ features: Tobyus as ‘Angry Penis’; Lamont Young as ‘Broken Penis’; Samuel Simmons as ‘Devoted Penis’; Lucky Conner as ‘Loving Penis’; Marwan Granville as ‘Disappointed Penis’; Louis Kameron Jack III as ‘Empty Penis’; Reggie Myles as ‘I Don’t Penis’; Idrees Degas as ‘I Do Penis’; DeJuan Christopher as ‘My Penis Matters’; and Mike Strong as ‘Erotic Penis’.

The show premieres Saturday, May 19 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, May 20 at 5 p.m. at California State Dominguez Hills Theater located at 1000 E Victoria Street in Carson. Tickets can be purchased at http://bit.ly/PenisMonologuesLA. For more information, please call (310) 291-5315.

By Lou Coleman-Yeboah 

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Talking ‘bout you sorry, and you ain’t going to do it no more!  Just be honest. You like getting high. You like drinking. You like fornicating; committing adultery. You like the way Sin makes you feel. Going around singing, “Ooh, baby, baby…  The way you make me feel, you really turn me on. You knock me off of my feet.  I’m in ecstasy. I bet you are! But I got news for you Mr. Feel Good. “Thus saith the Lord, ye have sold yourself for nought” [Isaiah 52:3]. You have traded your soul for nothing!  You have come up empty! “Oh, I say and I say it again, Ya been had! Ya been took! Ya been hoodwink! Bamboozled! Led astray! Run amok!” [Malcolm X 1992]

You know when Lysimachus, king of Thrace, was very thirsty he offered his kingdom to the Getae for a drink of water. After he had drunk he said, “Ah! Wretched me, who for such a momentary gratification, have lost so great a kingdom.”  Esau who traded his soul for fleeting pleasure, sold his birthright, which included not only material benefits and family privileges, but spiritual blessings as well, for a bowl of soup. It says that “he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way” [Genesis 25: 29-34; Hebrew 12: 16-17]. He didn’t have a second thought about what he had done. He did it, it felt good, and only much later did he come to regret it.

How applicable this is to him who, for some earthly pleasure, loses conviction of sin, conversion, and the Kingdom of Heaven! Selling your soul for very little, for mere trifles, for nothing of value! For one bowl of pottage, a momentary gratification, a few moments of pleasure. The truth of the Bible is that sin may bring short-term pleasure, but it always brings long-term misery and pain. What great consequences are sometimes connected with little actions. For one morsel of meat, for one sin, under certain circumstances, Heaven is given away, and the soul is forever lost in the bargain.

Listen, every day you’re trading your life, your soul, for something. The question is, For what?When it’s all over and you’ve cashed in all the time and abilities which have been allotted to you, what will you have to show for it? If you trade it in for fleeting pleasure, to gratify your immediate needs, you’ll come up empty. But if you trade your life for God’s kingdom and righteousness, to fulfill His purpose, you’ll be satisfied with that which no one can take from you.

Paul reminds us that the stories God includes in the Old Testament are there to help us avoid making the same mistakes (I Corinthians 10:11-12). No matter how temporarily enjoyable and satisfying any sin is in that moment, it cannot begin to measure up to the eternal rewards of God’s birthright promises. Sin is pleasurable but only for a time and that time is passing.  What then? “The wages of sin is death.” [Romans 6:23]

Trading your soul for what? Don’t do it!

^” For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  Traitors, heady, high minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” [2 Timothy 3:2-7]

 

King Day in South L.A.: A Photo Essay

By Rob Liggins

(EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Walking down Western Avenue fresh off the eastbound expo line, I could instantly feel the energy. I hadn’t even made it halfway to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and I was already enthralled by the atmosphere.

The joy. The pride. The love.

As an Oregon native, I had experienced MLK Day in Portland, but I had never celebrated King Day in South Los Angeles.

Only six months into my time as a Los Angeles transplant, the 2016 Kingdom Day Parade was my first time participating in the celebration.

The Los Angeles Community Coalition marches with signs honoring the 1968 Memphis Sanitization Workers Strike. The Community Coalition was founded in 1989, with the primary missions: transforming schools, strengthening families and building a thriving community in South Los Angeles.

In Portland, MLK day is another day off from work or a company-led volunteer day. Sure, people understand the historical significance of the national holiday, but it’s not the same.

I had never seen a celebration like this.

I had never heard every person who walked past me say, ‘Happy King Day’.

Seeing the thousands of people of all different ethnicities celebrating the life of a man who made many of their lives possible; Seeing the joy it brought them and the joy it made them want to share, filled me with a sense of pride I had sadly never known.

It’s been a year since that first, magical celebration. This year’s parade was much like last year’s?—?the perfect blend of the love that defined Martin Luther King Jr. and the people that define South Central Los Angeles.

Kamala Harris was the parade’s grand marshal, and the theme was the famed former First Lady Michelle Obama quote, “When they go low, we go high.”

I wanted to capture the day so others could experience the feeling for themselves. So, I documented the parade with a photo essay and interviewed several community members in the process (shown below).

I also wanted to learn more about the history of how it all got started, so I got in touch with Adrian Dove, President of the Kingdom Day Parade and Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE).

Happy King Day.

Each year, citizens and organizations representing a vast array of ethnicities and social justice causes honor Dr. King through his legacy of peaceful protest.

The History:

It’s been thirty-eight years since a retired banker, Larry E. Grant, decided to organize a neighborhood march honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The first parade was held in San Diego, California.

In 1985, the Kingdom Day Parade moved to the South Central neighborhood of Los Angeles. And today, it is the largest and oldest Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration in the nation.

The current Kingdom Day Parade and CORE President, Adrian Dove, 84, first became involved with the parade when he was the Regional Director at the U.S. Census Bureau.

“I used outreach money from the Census to help finance the parade, so that’s how I first got involved.” he said. “Then, five years later, it moved to L.A., and every year it got bigger. About thirteen years ago, the parade lost its funding. At the time, I was President and Chairman of CORE…we made the shift and had all the finances run through CORE, and that’s all that I was asked to do.”

For many high school marching bands in Los Angeles, the Kingdom Day Parade is the most anticipated performance of the year. It is the premiere opportunity to earn community bragging rights.

But, after filing taxes for the parade, Dove noticed the organization was still in financial turmoil. He then spent the next six years gathering support from community organizations and businesses to keep the parade alive. Each year, the number of parade floats, volunteers, and crowd members increased.

“[Larry Grant] died just a couple months before the parade in 2012. I was at Larry’s funeral and I said, ‘This man spent a lifetime, thirty years, of doing this parade, and it will not be lost. I personally promise to see to it that this parade shall go on’. And then I said to myself, ‘Did I say that? How am I going to do that?'”

However, Dove’s commitment to the parade was not only fueled by his love and admiration for Grant.

As a young man in the 1960s, Dove left the comfort of his job and home in Los Angeles to personally work with Dr. King as a part of the voter registration movement in Alabama.

Inspired after reading Dr. King’s book, Strength to Love, Dove attended a sermon led by Dr. King and was introduced to him afterwards by the woman he sat next to in the church.

In their conversation, Dr. King explained the need for college educated individuals to join the movement and help with registering African-Americans to vote in the South.

Two weeks later, Dove was living at the freedom house and working in the field.

“As great a man as he was, and I was just a young kid, he took the time to sit down and talk to me and treat me as if I was his equal. So, I always said, I was born at the right time… He put me out in the fields, there were people threatening to shoot us, and we were only getting thirty-two dollars a week, and to this day, I have to say, it’s the best job I ever had.” He said. “Nothing matches up to the experience of being able to go in and chat with him.”

Dove’s admiration for Dr. King’s legacy of love was evident in just about everything I heard him say. There’s an embracing warmth in the kindness of his voice, and a resounding joy in his laugh?—?the kind with the obvious intent to be spread. Every response to one of my questions was genuine and used as a teaching moment.

He told me how he always agreed with Stevie Wonder, who was instrumental in the creation of the parade and served as the first grand marshal. Wonder spoke in support of the King holiday saying, “There needs to be a holiday purely dedicated to love.” Dove then said, “That’s what we’re doing. [We’re doing] our best to make sure it stays dedicated to that.”

After years of persistent recruitment efforts, and seeking the advice of Los Angeles neighbor, the Rose Parade, the Kingdom Day Parade began to thrive year-after-year.

And Dove is far from the only one who embraces this holiday of love.

Today, in South Los Angeles, King Day is one of the most anticipated days of the year, and the parade is the main event.

“The biggest thing I like about the parade, is the fact that I’m working on something where people call and say, ‘I sure had a good time. Everybody was so happy,’ and to me that’s what makes it worth doing. You got a program and you just make people happy… I ride [in the parade] every year, and riding down the streets people are just smiling, waving?—?whole families. It’s a family thing, everyone you see is saying, ‘Happy King Day’, ‘Happy Kingdom Day’.” Dove said.

“That’s the neighborhood where we started in, South central, and that’s the neighborhood we intend to stay. We’re not gonna take it downtown or to the beach, we’re gonna stay right in the neighborhood and do it for the community.”

 

Plans for the 2019 Kingdom Day Parade are already in the works. Dove told me they recently selected the grand marshal for next year, and will reveal the special guest on a date closer to the parade.

But, that’s not all Dove and CORE have in mind for the South Los Angeles community. The organization is also hoping to begin a Juneteenth March as early as June 19 of this year. Dove spoke of the importance of Juneteenth as a holiday, and maintaining the mindset of, “No one is free until we’re all free.”

We talked about the Women’s March, which took place earlier that day. “We wanna do something like that,” he said.

“In January, we celebrate. In June, we march.”

Marchers in the Community Coalition proudly carry a Haitian flag. The white ribbon on the flag of Haiti bears the cultural motto, “L’Union Fait La Force”, which translates to “Unity Makes Strength.”

Reuben Belisle?—?”I live right in this area, a couple blocks from here. For the last twenty years, we’ve been coming to the parade just to see everybody come together for Martin Luther King. He did a lot for us to be here right now, and we appreciate what he did… We from Belize (pointing to friends and family behind the fence). This is the Belize community. What [King] meant to me when we was coming up, he was the one who gave us the right to be where we are right now. He fought for us. He died for us. I love being here… What’s going on with the politics right now. We gotta put up with it. But, it’s going to be over pretty soon?—?once Donald Trump gets outta the office.”

Trinisha Stewart (third from right), 41, “We watch it here every year. I live in Riverside and come here because my family owns the property. So, we’re out here for the annual King Day Parade, and everyone has come together?—?all the different cultures. You see so much diversity, you see togetherness. Everyone is out here just having an awesome time, just celebrating life, and celebrating the fact that we can all get along and exist in the same America… I’ve been coming since the very first one. I actually do not [remember it] because I was a small child. But, at this point, they’re just getting bigger and better. A lot of people are joining, it’s just really great. [The parade] means togetherness. Everyone celebrating their rights, everyone being able to celebrate, without anyone having issues with that. I’m glad that everyone’s out, we’re all just bonding, and it’s a great day.”

Glenn?—?”I’ve been coming here, every year since it started. My sister stays right here. And this is my nephew. I just love being with all the people and enjoying the day on a positive note. Everybody happy. It’s a happy day, (pointing to dancers) see what I mean? I’m living here today to see what he fought for years ago?—?and it’s happening. Slowly, but surely… [I’m] very proud to be here.”

 

(Left to right) DeAndre Allen, 20, Christopher Daniels, 20, Marcel Drinker, 19, Maalik Stokes, 16.

Christopher?—?”Martin Luther King, he was a really good man. I’m glad he helped out with this country. We wouldn’t be like this if it wasn’t for him. Happy birthday, King!”

 

DeAndre?—?”He did a lot of things for us colored people. He helped us not be segregated and come together.”

Maalik?—?”Man, Martin Luther King was the first man to really fight for our rights, man. He wasn’t the only one but he was the first one to really do this! You understand? Martin Luther king was the man. You understand? He gonna live on forever. This not the last MLK parade, we got a million more.”

Marcel?—?”What he did is gonna live on through centuries. It’s a legacy. This not the last parade ever. Without him we wouldn’t be here today.”

DeAndre?—?”Happy birthday to Martin Luther King. Thank you.”

 

Joe Epps and Danette Epps

Danette?—?”[We’ve been coming] over ten years or better, or even longer. Just getting together and seeing everyone come together in unity, [I’m] loving it. Since I’ve been coming, it’s been very peaceful.

Joe?—?Happy Martin Luther King’s birthday, you know? Like I said, we been coming down here for the last ten years to celebrate the legacy. And I request work off every year, just for this event.”

Danette?—?[The day represents] mainly how far we have come and how he set the mark for us to have the freedom and all that we have today. And how everybody really focusing on trying to be equal. You know? Cause that’s what he was about. You know? It wasn’t about that color, this color. He wanted everyone to just love and that’s what it is when we come down here to the Martin Luther King day.”

Andre Williams, 56.

Andre?—?”My mother was living here for five years, so we’ve been sitting here [during the parade] for five years. I was out of town for a lot years, I moved around. I was in the marines. Then, I went out on my own, living in different places…I’ve been back home for seven years.

I love the parade. It brings the community together. A lot of people see old friends and stuff. It’s about MLK, his legacy. Everyone getting together in peace and harmony.”

 

 

Ayesha?—?”[We’ve been coming] probably since elementary. Seriously, twenty-plus years. Since we were kids. I just love seeing everybody together. That really puts a smile on my face. Since this is all about peace and stuff, this a moment where everybody is pretty much all on the same page, you feel me? So, it’s real festive. And you feel like ‘that’s my sister, that’s my brother, that’s my cousin.’ You know? Like It’s a family, man. I love it.”

LuLu?—?”It’s the unity. Cause that’s what King was about. So It displays it. Not just between like the black culture. But, between everybody. That’s why there’s everybody in the parade. All different ethnicities. Just the unity of everybody being together for a peaceful event?—?for a man that did a lot for us. I feel like it’s very important that we keep what he’s done alive…I feel like we have to remember what he stood for, the reasons for it and we have to do the same thing. Cause he lit the torch and passed it and we gotta keep carrying it. Or we’ll let it die and we’ll revert back to before his days.”

Ayesha?—?”I think the main thing is keeping the legacy alive so hopefully maybe we can avoid some of the injustices going on.”

 

Heavy?—?They call me ‘Heavy’. I’ve been coming at least ’bout seven–eight years. My favorite part of being out here is being amongst love. You understand what I’m sayin’? Love is everything. God is everything. Know what I’m sayin’? You out here with love. Everybody, all nationalities are here. That’s what the world is. It’s love. People trying to divide, but love conquers all.

Being sixty years old, I see [King’s] words were strong, but ain’t too much has changed from that [in America]. But a change is gonna come. You know what I’m saying? A change is gonna come. We all gonna unite.”

PHILADELPHIA, PA- (EMPIRE NEWS NETWORK (ENN)- Starbucks Coffee Company recently announced it will be closing its more than 8,000 company-owned stores in the United States on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct racial-bias education geared toward preventing discrimination in their stores. The training will be provided to nearly 175,000 partners (employees) across the country and will become part of the on boarding process for new partners.

“I’ve spent the last few days in Philadelphia with my leadership team listening to the community, learning what we did wrong and the steps we need to take to fix it,” said Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. “While this is not limited to Starbucks, we’re committed to be a part of the solution. Closing our stores for racial-bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities.”

All Starbucks company-owned retail stores and corporate offices will be closed in the afternoon of Tuesday, May 29. During that time, partners will go through a training program designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome.

“The company’s founding values are based on humanity and inclusion,” said executive chairman Howard Schultz, who joined Johnson and other senior Starbucks leaders in Philadelphia to meet with community leaders and Starbucks partners. “We will learn from our mistakes and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe and welcoming environment for every customer.”

The curriculum will be developed with guidance from several national and local experts confronting racial bias, including Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative; Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund; Heather McGhee, president of Demos; former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; and Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League. Starbucks will involve these experts in monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of the measures we undertake.

Earlier this week, Starbucks began a review of its training and practices to make important reforms where necessary to ensure our stores always represent our Mission and Values, by providing a safe and inclusive environment for our customers and partners.

Once completed, the company will make the education materials available to other companies, including our licensee partners, for use with their employees and leadership.