WSSN Stories

By Naomi K. Bonman 

Summer time is the time for good food, good company, and good music. This is the experience that many are hopeful for when attending the LA Soul Fest. After a successful year, last year during the 1st annual LA Soul Fest, concert goers were amped for this year’s show and line-up. Despite Sunday’s cancellation, many still made the most of the first two-days.

This year the festival was held at a new location closer to Downtown Los Angeles at Exposition Park, and with a new location came several changes. The first change was within the staffing. There seemed to be miscommunication between event staff, the public relations crew, and the promotion company, Airborne Tickets. For press, checking-in was a bit confusing on Friday where some of us kept getting the run around prior to picking up credentials. Guests also said stated that they had difficulties when claiming their VIP, The passes at the “box office”. 

“Friday and Saturday for us Florida tourist was nice,” Tanya Hurt explains. “I’m very disappointed they canceled Sunday’s show…well I guess seeing how they were disorganized with VIP tickets on Friday should have been a foreshadow of what was to come.” 

Despite the confusion with check-in everything seemed to run smoothly on Friday, even regarding some of the talent skipping the red carpet due to not getting their full pay. Each artist performed and put on a great show in order not to disappoint fans.

Saturday night was a different story. The evening was more hectic with artists not showing up due to no payment. Tyrese went on a rampage via social media about his pay. He was supposed to close out Saturday night’s show as the main headliner. BJ the Chicago Kid was due to open the show, but he dropped as well. However, Anthony Hamilton and Slick Rick & Doug E. Fresh saved the show by doing extended sets. 

After Saturday night’s disappointments, it was excepted that Sunday would run much smoother, but due to unforeseen circumstances the show was pulled. The news came at the last minute when guests was already lined up waiting for the gates to open. Several traveled distances and booked hotel fares for the festival, and felt as if they wasted money and that their vacation turned into a disaster. Guests were told via email that they would receive full refunds for Sunday’s show, although some also believed that they should also receive a partial refund for Saturday night since some of the artists did not perform as hoped for.

“Thank you for your support and patronage over the last two years,” Mark Douglas, CEO of Airborne Tickets/Director of LA Soul Fest, explained. “We apologize for your experience regarding Sunday’s event cancellation. We did everything in our power to make this show a success, but fell short financially. We ask for your patience in this matter, as we work to deliver the best possible service to all our customers during these circumstances.”

This is one of those unfortunate situations where you just scratch your head and ask, “Now how do we recover from this?” Hopefully in the future the promoters can rethink and re-manage things to have a successful event like the first year. They may have to go back to the original venue and layout plan, and invest in acquiring sponsors because vendors alone can’t cover all the expenses and payouts of an event that is this massive with A-list talent. 

Photos by Kristina Dixon/11:One Visuals 

By Manny Otiko, California Black Media

People getting busted for hosting parties based on racial stereotypes is nothing new. But it’s not something that you expect from a legal organization that’s supposed to stand for impartiality in the law. But that’s what happened when photos leaked of a Halloween party thrown by the Judicial Council of California. The Judicial Council is the policymaking arm of the California courts. Its goal is to be an independent and impartial administration of justice.

According to a report from the San Francisco ABC affiliate, the party featured stereotypical images of people of color depicted as prisoners. Some of the male staff members dressed as a transgender character from the TV show, “Orange is the New Black.”

News of the Judicial Council’s party has sparked a political uproar from Black organizations and legislators.

“I am deeply disturbed by the reprehensible, racist and poor judgment the Judicial Council displayed at a Halloween party last year,” said Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D- Carson), a member of Legislative Black Caucus and Chair of Democratic Caucus.  “For a public policymaking body that is equipped with the responsibility of fair access to the courts, it is highly disappointing that a group of judicial staff members would put down a race simply to win a contest. It is never okay to engage in stereotypical behavior or homophobic mockery, all while distributing offensive photos over a public server for ridicule.”

“I stand with the NAACP and am calling on the Judicial Council for a sincere public apology and an immediate reprimand of these senseless actions.  This is demeaning, discriminatory, and sends the negative message that black people and members of the LGBTQ community are bad people.Although the damage is done and the seed is planted, and quite possibly for years to come, we will not tolerate bias from a department whose responsibility is that of justice for all. This action will not go unchallenged,” said Gipson.

The California Capitol Black Staff Association released a statement condemning the images.

“As public servants who work for a public body created to provide equitable access to California’s courts, it is shameful that these individuals chose to engage, on state time, in a type of hate speech that depicts dangerous stereotypes that have haunted the Black population in America since slavery,” said the California Capitol Black Staff Association.

According to the ABC report, Michael Roosevelt, an employee of the Judicial Council, said the images make a mockery of the organization’s goals.

“Here you’ve got the image of people who work for and support the courts who are dressed in prison garb, darkening their faces, depicting a prison setting where disproportionately those people who are incarcerated are people of color,” said Roosevelt.

The Alliance of California Judges said the incident proves the Judicial Council needs to be reformed.

“If the Chief Justice won’t restructure the Judicial Council, so its judicial members are elected by their peers, then it’s high time for the Legislature to take control of the judicial branch funds away from the Judicial Council and place those funds in the hands of a trial budget commission consisting of trial judges elected by their peers,” said the Alliance of California Judges in a press statement.

The pictures were also condemned by Assemblymember Chris Holden (D-Pasadena,) chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus.

“The racist actions of those associated with the Judicial Council are shameful!” said Holden.

Dr. Amos Brown, national board member and president of San Francisco NAACP, who first learned about the incident from a Bay Area reporter said, “This should be a wake-up call for Blacks in this state. Blacks make up 6 percent of the California’s population but 45 to 50 percent of the inmate population.”  Brown suggested an “ignorance of Black history” was the reason these employees could host a party in such poor taste.

Brown said he credited the executive director for the written apology discipline actions that have not been announced, but still feels like the damage has been done.

Third Baptist Church in San Francisco will be meeting with judges from the San Francisco Superior Court area on August 23 to discuss how to work together so the criminal justice systems can embody justice and restorative justice for the African American community and the greater community.

By Ysrayl

For the uplifting and encouragements of my people…

I don’t like to speak on subjects of my own thoughts and word opinions. I feel for us, we need the voice of the Word of YAH, so let YAH answer WHY we should return in this day in time, especially since everything has changed so much, since Ancient Days. YAH spoke to Jeremiah and the people were queried why? and He said, through the inspiration of God, [Jer. 3:14-15] “For I am married unto you.” Hebrews, we understand the true meaning of marriage, so I don’t have to go in to that, we all have a spiritual sense about us, because we are Hebrews, that’s what makes us Peculiar and Special! Another reason: YAH will give us leaders which will feed us with knowledge and wisdom, we sure do need that for us as a people and for our little ones’ future so that we can possess those things we need for ourselves; when we produce them, they are ready at hand for us when someone else produces them then we are under their hand. So, we have found the way-out ourselves, that we can escape. YAH has made possible through His Word. Since we are new to this path, not new, but re-introduce we must take it piece meal at a time, until we can look back in our DNA and feel the times of HEBREW YSRAEL AFRICA; this is the only way, through the Spirit. We need cohesiveness together!! In our history, we have this guy name Balak he sent messengers to Balaam, that he might curse the Children of Ysrael. Balaam went to YAH, and YAH said that the people are BLESSED PEOPLE! This passage is valuable to us because it helps us identify ourselves. YAH said we are blessed people, then in Chapter 23 Numbers verses 8-9 this prophet person, a long time ago spoke these words concerning us as a people [Nation State]: “How shall I curse, whom YAH has not cursed…” then in verse 9, the prophet person stands upon one of the hills in Africa and he sees Ysrael; for from the top of the rocks, I see him, and from the hills, I behold him: Lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall NOT be reckoned among the Nations.” As we are separated this day, that’s a good thing. We are a people like no other, we look different, we smell different, everybody else has the same strain of hair, we are one in alike, there is not another people, that has any in that we have, we are separated and set apart, sanctified, and made holy by the Father of all Lights. We are the HEBREW PEOPLE, let us step up, and be role models to the rest of our people…Shalom! May YAH bless you and keep you.

By Lue Dowdy

Calling all youth with a talent! Come compete in our upcoming showcase for a chance to win a $500 cash prize. Get on our audition list, all others will be auditioned on a first come first serve basis.

This event is all about our talented Inland Empire youth! We are looking for young entrepreneurs to showcase their product, a youth co-host, a youth DJ, and a designer that specializes in youth apparel. You could be our featured designer with the opportunity to showcase your clothing in a mini fashion show during the event.

The event will be held at 555 W. 6th Street in San Bernardino from 1 p.m. to 4 pm. in Kellog Room B. The winners will receive the following: 1st place $500 cash and trophy, 2nd place cash prize and trophy, and 3rd place cash prize and trophy

Participants must be 19 years old and under and must reside in the Inland Empire. For more information, please text (909) 567-1000.

Lou Coleman

By Lou Coleman

You see they say, “Like Father, like son.” They say, “The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.” So tell me, “Who’s your daddy?” Who are you submitting to? Who is the, “Simon says” in your life; and don’t act like you don’t know who “Simon says,” is. You remember the rhyme. “Simon says to shake your arms. Simon says to jump up and down. Simon says to clap your hands. Simon says to stomp your feet. Simon says to touch your knees. Simon says to stick out your tongue. Simon says to wiggle your nose. Simon says to grab your ears. Simon says listen to what I say, and do what I tell you to…but only when Simon says.” Come on; tell me, “Who’s your daddy? Who has authority over you? Tell me the truth. Is God your father or are you a son of the devil? Now before you answer that, keep in mind what they say, “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.” Now be honest and tell me, whose your daddy?

Because I want you to know that Jesus makes His thesis statement three times in [John 8: 37-47]: He says, We have different fathers. You are of your father the devil.  You are not of God.  If God were your Father, you would love Me. If God were your Father, you would want to do His will.  If God were your Father, you would love the truth. If God were your Father, you would hear His words. But you can’t even bear to listen to what I’m saying to you. I am God’s love letter to the world. Don’t you want to open up your mail? Don’t you want to read what God would say to you? Don’t you want to hear the message? I’m it! But you’re not interested in Me because you’re not interested in God. Your will is set against Me because your will is set against God. Now, let me tell you plainly who your father is. Let me tell you plainly whose footsteps you are walking in…whose will it is that you are pursuing. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. You’re cut out of the same cloth. You have set your heart to do your father’s bidding: You seek to murder me. You speak lies. You seek to do his will, not the will of God. If God were your father, you would want to do His will. You would listen intently to Me. You would believe My words, meditate on them and seek to live in accordance with them. That’s what happens when you are a child of God. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Because God is not your father [John 14:6]. You have itching ears. But you rather hear a lie. Child of Satan!

I want you to know that life under the devil’s fatherhood is dark, oppressive, hopeless, and inevitably sinful [John 8:44]. And I want you to know that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth [Romans 1: 18-25]. The Good News however, is that Jesus has provided for you the way into the family of God. [2 Peter 3:9] says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Jesus said, “My Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son [Jesus] and believes in him shall have eternal life” [John 6:40]. God wants to become the Father of each of us, and in order for us to come into His family; His will is that we “look to” Jesus His Son. Therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day Whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” [Joshua 24:14-15].

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.” [Deuteronomy 30:19]

By Manny Otiko | California Black Media 

Civil rights groups took to a conference call to strategize on how to breathe life into AB 284, a law that would have forced all police shootings to be investigated by independent prosecutors assigned by the California Attorney General’s office. 

AB 284 was introduced by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) earlier this year. But sources on the call suggested that McCarty has done little to advance the bill and criticized concessions he made to make it a five-million-dollar research bill, a day before many people were getting ready to celebrate the Fourth of July. 

One of the main arguments for AB 284 is that local district attorneys, who are assigned to prosecute police shootings, are too close to the cases and reluctant to charge officers.  This is one of the reasons why prosecutors often fail to win convictions if the cases are even brought to trial. Philando Castile, a Minnesota motorist, was gunned down by a police officer while he was carrying a licensed weapon. But prosecutors failed to win a conviction, even though the incident was captured on tape and broadcast on Facebook Live. 

However, California has its own share of questionable police shootings, such as Alfred Olango, an unarmed black man shot dead by El Cajon police, Oscar Grant shot by a Bart transit officer in Oakland and Joseph Mann a mentally ill unarmed man shot 16 times by Sacramento police. According to the Guardian, last year the Los Angeles Police Department recorded the highest number of police shootings in the nation. 

AB 284 is supported by several organizations such as the Rev. Al Sharpton’s National Action Network (NAN) and Sacramento NAACP. In May, Sharpton held a press conference at the State Capitol alongside the Rev K.W. Tulloss, NAN western regional director, and the Rev. Shane Harris, San Diego president of NAN, to urge legislators to pass AB 284. 

Sharpton said although California claimed to be a progressive state, it leads the nation in police shootings. 

“California has this image of progressivism but is not up to par with other states in the union, like New York, like Wisconsin, who have made toward a special prosecutor,” said Sharpton. He also pointed out that district attorneys often depend on the support of police unions during local elections. 

AB 284 was opposed by several law enforcement organizations such as the Fraternal Order of Police and the California Statewide Law Enforcement Association. The Police Officers Research Association of California (PORAC) dismissed AB 284 as a “waste of taxpayers dollars.”

Civil rights groups are expected to speak at the hearing room 3191 and hold a press conference after the hearing Tuesday, July 11, on the West steps of the Capitol.

By Lue Dowdy

Alfred Parker, Maurice Cunningham, Daniel Fromm, Michael Angelo, and Clyde Gatewood is WHAT IT DO! Competing for a $500.00 cash prize, get ready for this one of a kind event happing right here in the Inland Empire. LUE Productions presents its 1st ‘Big Sexy Men Competition’ and BBW Fashion Show.

The event host will be Comedian Tamiko Kirkland with special appearances by BBW Queen Dee Dela Cruz and Queen Krystal Yvonne. There will be a special performance from LUE Productions’ rap group GWAAP FAM.

The evening will consist of the following: red carpet, BBW Fashion Show, live performances, and raffles and prizes. Featured designers include Diva’s Outlaw and Babydoll Couture. The pabel of judges this year are Lia Freeman, 2015 Miss California Plus; Jamie Lopez, VIC Camp of VIC Camp Entertainment, Brittany Sheraz ‘Just so Jazzy’, Jamila Choyce of Choyce TV, and Tonya Marie, Fashion Consultant and Radio Host. Vendors that will be in attendance are Pitstop BBQ, Lula Roe, It Works, FW Photography, JH Boutique and Thrift, Joshua Home, MKY Petite Modeling Agency, and Paparazzi Jewelry.

The show will be on Sunday, October 27 at the Women’s Club of San Bernardino located at 503 W 31^st Street in San Bernardino. Don’t wait, get your tickets now! Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. For tickets, text (909) 567-1000 or (909) 566-7637 or email LUE.INFO@yahoo.com.

By Lou Coleman

Pretending to be a Christian! Pretending to love Me! You don’t love Me! [John 5:42]. You profess to know Me, but you deny Me by your works. You are detestable, disobedient, and unfit for any good works.” [Titus 1:16]. Admirably and truly did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said: You hypocrite! You honor Me with [your] lips, but [your] heart is far from Me [Isaiah 29:13; Ezekiel 33:31-33; Matthew 15:7-8]. You Pharisees, “brood of vipers” and “evil.” Sons of Hell, fools, blind guides, white sepulchers, murderers, a generation of snakes [Matthew 23] imitating righteousness but as evil as all get up [2 Corinthians 11:13-15]. I want you to know that you will be sent to Hell [Matthew 23: 13-29; John 3:5; Hebrew 6:8; Luke 20: 45-47] if you do not repent and serve Me with your whole heart. [Matthew 23:27]. If you don’t believe anything else about me, you better believe that! I will whoosh your behind straight to Hell! Say something…. I dare you! I will gather you, and blow upon you in the FIRE of My wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof…, and ye shall know that I the Lord have poured out My fury upon you” [Ezekiel 22:18-22].

I want you to know that Jesus didn’t pull any punches. He didn’t mince His words. He spoke harshly, demeaningly, and with great anger in His voice to the scribes and Pharisees when it came to the sins and hypocrisy of their lives. Snakes hiding in the garden known as the Church, apostates whose doctrines are poisonous, you better learn what their markings are because there are many in the church today that are running neck to neck with Judas Iscariot who was the most successful hypocrite of all time. He played his part so well that no one but Jesus Himself knew that Judas was a fraud and a pretender. He was as common and as ordinary as the rest of the disciples. He was so ordinary that he never stood out from the rest. He hid behind the camouflage of hypocrisy. To who am talking too; running neck to neck with Judas; keeping a low profile and camouflaging your hypocrisy. If you pretend to know God when you don’t… the penalty for that makes every other form of punishment man can come up with seem like a walk in the park.   It will be worse than any other from the beginning of the world until now, says the Lord [Matthew 23; Matthew 24]. I want you to know that the story of Ananias and Sapphira warns us of the danger of the sin of hypocrisy [Acts 4:36-5:11] It was literally deadly for this couple.  [Acts 5:1-11]. This couple, who put on the mask of hypocrisy, was struck dead by God. You better get some get right quick and in a hurry!

You see the Bible calls hypocrisy a sin and clearly indicates that those who practice it will be sent to Hell. You must repent while “it is still day: while there is still time; while the doors remain open.  I urge you today to stop trifling with the patience and mercy of God, and allow God’s Word to confront your life. If you’re playing the religion game, quit now! Get real with the living God. Spend time each day with Him. Judge your sins and turn from them. Seek to grow in godly character. If you don’t know that one day the storm of GOD’s wrath will come sweeping down upon you and you will know then what your sinful stubborn heart will not let you understand now.  May God pit you in that day!

“Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish.” [Luke 13:3]

High school students nationwide can now apply at DisneyDreamersAcademy.com to be among 100 selected to participate in the 2018 Disney Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE, the innovative, outside-the-classroom, mentoring program that takes place in March at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.

The program has produced many success stories, inspiring students to become authors, nurses, pilots, doctors, journalists and engineers following the three-day all-expenses-paid experience at Walt Disney World Resort where the theme parks become vibrant ‘classrooms’ leading to career discoveries and fun memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Program applicants must answer essay questions about their personal journeys and dreams for the future. Students are selected based on a combination of attributes, including strong character, positive attitude and determination to achieve their dreams. Selected applicants, along with a parent or guardian, will receive an all-expense-paid trip to Walt Disney World Resort.

Applications are open to U.S. high school students, ages 13 to 19, through Oct. 31, 2017. A distinguished panel of leaders will evaluate the applications, and selected participants will be announced in early 2018.

For more information regarding applications, interested applicants can visit DisneyDreamersAcademy.com, or learn more about the program on Facebook.com/DisneyDreamersAcademy or Twitter.com/DreamersAcademy.

By Shalom Ysrayl

For the uplifting and encouragement of my people…

The calling back of the children of Israel. The word speaks to us, “If it be marvelous in the eyes of the remnant [we are the remnant, the children of the fathers] of this people in these days, should it also be marvelous in mine eyes, says the Mighty One.” [Zechariah 8:6]. This passage is the Resurrection of the children of Israel; if it’s marvelous in our eyes, how much more marvelous is it in the eyes of Yah, our Savior [Ezekiel 37…Dry Bones Live]. When they say; how will it be accomplished then you say, “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says Yah.” Yahweh bless you!