Happily Divorced And After

By BoTefu | California Black Media

In an unexpected alliance, Kamilah Moore, who served as the chair of California’s Reparations Task Force, joined forces with Republican Assemblymember Bill Essayli (R-Corona) to advance reparations efforts in the state.

Although Essayli has expressed his opposition to taxpayer-funded reparations, he has introduced a bill to establish the California American Freedmen Agency, which would provide genealogy services to identify Californians who are descendants of enslaved African Americans.

Moore, who chaired California’s historic reparations task force, has endorsed the bill, calling it a crucial step forward.

“I stand in strong support,” said Moore. “As former chairperson, I’m going to support any piece of legislation from any legislator that speaks to the task force’s report.”

The proposal closely mirrors a measure introduced last year by former Democratic State Senator Steven Bradford, Senate Bill(SB) 1403, which did not advance to the floor of the Assembly for a vote during the last legislative session.

Advocates outraged about the bill’s failure blamed Gov. Gavin Newsom and members of the California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) for the bill’s failure.

Essayli claims Democratic lawmakers told him Newsom wanted to avoid the issue due to national political concerns. Newsom’s office declined to comment on the claim.

The CLBC has recently proposed a separate initiative that would allocate $6 million for a two-year genealogy study before launching a Bureau for Descendants of American Slaves. However, Moore argues that the task force has already conducted sufficient research and that the focus should now be on implementation.

The state has allocated $12 million in the 2024-25 budget for reparations-related initiatives. Last year, the Legislature issued a formal apology to the descendants of people, which includes a $500,000 memorial plaque.

Essayli emphasized that his bill would not require new funding, as the existing budget could support the Freedmen Affairs Agency.

“I think a lot of people have a misconception that there is an effort to hand out checks to all Black Americans. That’s not true, it’s also not constitutional. So, this bill is very narrow,” said Essayli.

“We are the party that fought to abolish slavery, we were founded to abolish slavery, we fought a civil war. Our first President was Lincoln. This was a natural constituency group for the Republican party,” he said.

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson has been appointed by the Speaker of the California State Assembly to serve as the State Assembly Ex Officio Member on the California Air Resources Board (CARB). His appointment brings a fresh perspective to the board, reflecting the needs of communities affected by industrial development and daily commuting challenges.

Dr. Jackson represents a region where many residents face long commutes and where warehouse development and industrial growth raise air quality concerns. Dr. Jackson is committed to ensuring that California updates its climate goals and makes clean air a top priority, while also protecting our families by finding ways to reduce gas prices. We can achieve both—a sustainable, healthier environment and financial relief for those who commute long distances every day. It is vital to find solutions that advance environmental progress without placing undue strain on our communities.

“As a lawmaker representing areas directly impacted by industrial growth, long commutes, and rising gas prices, I look forward to bringing the concerns of the State Assembly to CARB and increasing legislative oversight,” said Assemblymember Dr. Corey A. Jackson. “My active participation on the board will help ensure that our state’s air quality and climate policies work for all Californians.”

Dr. Jackson is known for his commitment to social justice and protecting vulnerable communities. His service on CARB comes at a crucial time as California navigates the balance between environmental protection and economic stability.

The San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra has quite a weekend coming up and invites you to be a part.

The Symphony’s 96th performance season begins on March 22 with “Storm and Seduction: Reformation vs. Carmen,” a creative juxtaposition of two Romantic/Classical favorites which will be held at the historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts in downtown San Bernardino.

In the first half of this 3 p.m. matinee, Symphony Music Director and Conductor Anthony Parnther will lead the Orchestra in Felix Mendelssohn’s powerful and evocative Fifth Symphony in D minor, known as the “Reformation” Symphony. In the second half, Maestro Parnther will welcome to the stage noted vocalists Maria Dominique Lopez, Orson Van Gay II, and Jose Luis Maldonado for electrifying selections from Georges Bizet’s beloved opera, Carmen.

“While we have presented a variety of repertoire as of late, the San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra celebrates music of every genre, especially the cornerstone orchestral music for which we have long been known,” explained Maestro Parnther. “I invite our community, and especially those new to orchestral performance, to give this concert a try. I can guarantee it will not be what you’d expect!”

Purchase March 22 Concert Tickets

Meet the Featured Artists

Maria Dominique Lopez

Praised as “a rich-voiced mezzo” (Operawire) and “a real tour-de-force” (Splash Magazine), Mexican-American mezzo soprano Maria Dominique Lopez has sung operatic roles and symphonic works throughout the United States and Europe for over a decade. Additionally, she has recorded vocals for independent films and major motion pictures, including Golden Globe and Academy Award Winning Disney/Pixar film, “Coco,” (which she describes as her “proudest vocal achievement”) and New Line Cinema’s horror film, “The Curse of La Llorona.”

 Orson V

Symphony patrons will recognize American Operatic Tenor Orson V from a number of previous appearances with the orchestra. He was first introduced to Symphony audiences when he performed as part of the stellar group of vocalists at our 2023 concert under the stars. Van Gay has captivated audiences in classical and contemporary opera and concert performances with his charisma and “fine heroic tenor” (San Francisco Classical Voice). He has garnered acclaim for roles in his home of Southern California and across the United States, with Broadway World declaring, “his sound was fluent and his high notes golden,” and Voix des Arts stating, “The vitality of his work was gratifyingly unflappable.”

Hailed by Opera News as a “seemingly unlimited baritone,” International vocalist Josè Luis Maldonado, from Los Angeles attended Cal State Fullerton (BM), and Manhattan School of Music (MM); he is currently attending Michigan State University as a candidate for a doctorate in music, vocal performance. He is a career grant recipient from the Opera Buffs Inc. and Richard F. Gold Career Grant recipient from the Shoshana Foundation.  He will soon make his Lincoln Center debut as Escamillo in Carmencita, an Argentinian adaptation in Spanish of Bizet’s Carmen.

Annual Gala Follows on Sunday

Josè Luis Maldonado

Opening weekend will also feature the Symphony’s 96th Season Gala which will benefit youth music education and access programs. Scheduled for Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. at the Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts, the event is themed “Music at the Foot of the Mountains” in honor of Symphony’s 2024 commissioned work “Al Pie de la Montaña” by Composer-In-Residence Fernando Arroyo Lascurain. Gala tickets are still available online or by calling the Symphony office at (909) 381-5388.

“This is our first Sunday afternoon gala,” shared Symphony President Elect and Gala Chair Sonietta M. Brown. “With the positive response to our matinee concerts, this seemed a lovely way to keep the momentum going. Further, holding the event in a gallery without the traditional table assignments is part of our commitment to creating inviting and inclusive events to uplift and spotlight the Inland Empire growing arts scene.”

Major event sponsors include The Black Voice News, St. Bernardine Medical Center and Medical Staff, San Bernardino City Unified School District, San Bernardino Community College District, Making Hope Happen Foundation, Lloyd and Marion Garrison, and Laurie and Kenneth Lane, MD.

Purchase March 23 Gala Tickets

Tickets and Location Details

While full season concert tickets are the most economical way to enjoy the SBSO performance year, single concert tickets are also available at $20-$100 per seat, with student seats priced at $15 with an accompanying adult. Venue box office sales are planned prior to all concert performances, but the availability of seats can never be guaranteed, so securing seats early is always highly suggested. The historic California Theatre of the Performing Arts is located at 562 W. Fourth Street in downtown San Bernardino. Free, lighted parking is available adjacent to the venue. Doors open one hour prior to concert time.

Gala tickets are $96 per person and sponsorships, most of which include both gala and concert tickets, are still available. The Barbara and Art Culver Center of the Arts is located at 3834 Main Street in downtown Riverside. Free parking is available directly across from the venue.

Both concert and gala tickets may be purchased online or by calling the Symphony office at (909) 381-5388 Monday through Friday between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Wail! For there is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. [Proverbs 14:12].

Man can’t even begin to compare. The essence of God: Sovereign, Almighty, Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Infinite, Eternal, and Immortal, to mention only a few. No list of adjectives could ever adequately picture the immenseness of God. Because he is God, no words or thoughts of mortal men and women could ever compass his greatness. He is far bigger than we imagine, His presence fills the universe, He is more powerful than we know, wiser than all the wisdom of the wisest men and women, His love is beyond human understanding, His grace has no limits, His holiness is infinite, and His ways are past finding out. He is the one true God. He has no beginning and no end. He created all things, and all things exist by His divine power. Our best efforts fall so far short of his divine reality that we flatter ourselves to think that we truly understand him at all.

It is against that backdrop that we must consider the meaning of verses such as “The secret things belong to the Lord our God” [Deuteronomy 29:29] and “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than our ways and His thoughts than our thoughts” [Isaiah 55:9].

With such a lack of knowledge that we have about how this world works, why do we ever think that we know better than the Lord? Satan lied to Eve when he tempted her to disobey God. He said, “Ye shall be as Gods.” [Genesis 3:5]. Since that day, man decided that he wanted to be god and that he wanted to create a “New World Order” without God.

As far back as the Tower of Babel, mankind has dreamed of a one-world government. Mankind, commanded by God to diversify over the face of the earth, chose, instead, to remain together in one place, in defiance of their Creator’s desire. Yet, it was not then God’s will that humanity be united in one location under one human government, and He intervened to scatter humanity across the earth by dividing the languages of man [Genesis 11:1-8], but now the globalists are attempting to undo what the Lord did. They want to rebuild a type of Babel.

The nerve of man, thinking they know better than God. Wail!

Unfortunately for us, that time and what seemed so unbelievably futuristic at one point is now becoming a reality ?our cashless society, microchips and digitized tracking systems…all evidence that the stage is setting itself just as it was prophesized in the Book of Revelation. The Mark of the Beast: One World Government, One World Religion, One World Economic. [Revelation 13:16-18].

Today, the United Nations has a World Constitution, a World Currency, a World Income Tax, a World Military Force, a Global Identification Number and what they call a Global Ethic – which is the code for a future World Religion. The coalition has also created the World Bank, the World Health Organizations, the International Criminal Court, and the International Court of Justice.

Not to mention that some world leaders think they are so smart they mask their intentions of uniting in a one-world government by using phrases like Global Management, the Rule of World Law; Collective Sovereignty, the Interdependence of Nations, a Global Village, and Collective Security which is nothing more than catch words for a one-world agenda. I tell you, the nerve of man thinking he knows better than God.

As Elon Musk said at the 2023 World Government Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates remotely via video call.

I know this is called the “World Government Summit,” but I think we should be a little bit concerned about actually becoming too much of a single world government,” Musk said. Musk referenced the fall of Rome, which took place in the 5th century, as an example of civilizational collapse. Musk explained, “While Rome was falling, Islam was rising, so you had a caliphate doing well while Rome was doing terribly. And that ended up being a source of preservation of knowledge and many scientific advancements.”

“So, I think we need to be a little conscious of being too much of a single civilization because if we are too much of a single civilization, then the whole thing may collapse,” he continued. I’m obviously not suggesting war or anything like that. But I think we want to be a little wary of actually cooperating too much,” Musk concluded. “It sounds a little odd, but we want to have some amount of civilizational diversity so that if something does go wrong with some part of civilization then the whole thing doesn’t just collapse and humanity keeps moving forward.”

Musk later quipped on Twitter that the World Government Summit “seemed like the right venue” to spread the message.

“If I may say, we want to avoid creating a civilizational risk by having — frankly, this might sound a little odd — too much cooperation between governments,” the Tesla CEO continued.

Elon Musk is absolutely correct. If man insist on having a one-world government, it will be the final chapter of human history!

Although God has allowed divisions in language, geography, culture, etc., to keep man from uniting as one, the Bible teaches that God will allow evil to form a global government for three and one-half years during the second half of the tribulation for the purpose of God’s global judgment just prior to the second coming of Christ and the establishment of His global rule for 1,000 years upon earth.

We need to pray, “Your Kingdom come” for the defeat of Satan and the powers of evil because the world is on the verge of a stupendous crisis under the rule by the Antichrist. [Revelation 20:10].

So, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” [Mark 4:23].

For the first time in history, every biblical prophecy leading up to the arrival of the New World Order has been fulfilled. What has not been accomplished militarily is being achieved through international trade agreements, illegal immigration, and the influence of a secular media that has become a partner in Satan’s deception. This will be the time of the tribulation. However, their deceptive scheme will not achieve their desired goal, but rather it will bring about more disorder, destruction, and death.

Wail!

By Edward Henderson | California Black Media

The California Surgeon General’s Office has launched a new questionnaire that they believe will help reduce the state’s maternal mortality rate by 50% by December 2026 as part of its Strong Start and Beyond movement.

The Preconception Medical Assessment or PreMA is comprised of eight yes or no questions that can help potential mothers understand how their current health status and history affect a future pregnancy. The Office plans to provide digital links and physical PDFs of the questionnaire and distribute them among women living in communities designated as “high risk.”

“We know that over 85% of maternal deaths in California can be prevented,” said California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos during an Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications (OCPSC) digital press conference.

“Moms don’t have to die. Our sisters, our mothers, the wives, they don’t have to die. We can save their lives by simply alerting people to the fact that their current health could impact the pregnancy and postpartum.”

Question topics include heart health, high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues, drug use and history of surgery.

Once a woman answers the questions, there are general recommendations for care at the bottom of the questionnaire based on the number of ‘yes’ responses they give. Also, at the bottom of the quiz, there are links to resources where people can get information on medical care, housing and other programs providing aid to new mothers.

Additionally, 62% of maternal deaths occur after the baby has been delivered. PreMA can also be effective to monitor health conditions between pregnancies as well to help lower this number.

“There were so many times when I cared for patients and I had to tell them, ‘you’re going to be needing more medical care, or you’re a higher risk pregnancy because of the chronic medical condition that was present before you became pregnant.’ And inevitably, the words that always came out of the people that I cared for was, ‘I wish I would have known. I wish I would have known that there was something that I could have done to improve the outlook for my pregnancy.’”

Black women in the U. S. are more than twice as likely as white women to die due to complications related to maternity and the birthing process, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For Black women in California, the risk of death due to pregnancy complications is four to six times higher than any other ethnic group, according to data from the California Health Care Foundation.

Licensed Doula Ithiopia McKinney is an example of one of those women. McKinney, said at the time of her pregnancy she did not qualify for insurance. According to McKinney, she had to utilize the services of an emergency room. During a visit she found out that there was a bleeding from her placenta caused by high blood pressure.

“If it was something that was caught beforehand, I would have been able to take the necessary steps to fix it with medical care,” said McKinney. “And I would not have had anxiety during my pregnancy. They were even talking about it might be possible that I had to stay in the hospital. I was put on bed rest, but I really couldn’t be on bed rest because I was an immigrant trying to work.”

A Black immigrant, McKinney’s struggles are common for women of color in the United States.

Black women in California experience pregnancy-related maternal mortality rates that are three to four times higher than other women.

“A tool like PreMA would give us the information that we would need before we even think about getting pregnant. Every time you empower a woman, and in terms of their reproductive health, it leads to better outcomes. And so that is one of the reasons why me personally, we started the mobile health planning. No woman would not have that prenatal care that I, unfortunately, had.”

By Angela M. Coggs

Join us for an unforgettable evening of laughter, inspiration, and celebration as the Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation (YWEF) presents A Comedic Celebration of Women’s Empowerment in honor of Women’s s History Month. This empowering event will take place on Friday, March 28, 2025, at 6:00 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) at the Diamond Gold Event Center, located at 371 W. Highland Avenue, San Bernardino, CA 92405.

This special evening will highlight the achievements of six extraordinary women as we honor the 2025 Women Making History award recipients:

• Debbie Flores
• Suzanne Hazel
• Cazzmirr Middleton
• Shonie Perry
• Devona Robertson
• Wendy Whitmore

Tickets are available for $50 per person or $400 per table of eight. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for those who want to support and uplift the empowerment of women in our community.

Come celebrate the strength, resilience, and impact of women in a night filled with laughter and empowerment. Don’t miss this incredible event!

For more information, sponsorship inquiries, or to purchase tickets, please contact Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation or visit ywefoundation@gmail.com

About Young Women’s Empowerment Foundation

The Young Women’s s Empowerment Foundation is dedicated to inspiring, mentoring, and empowering young women to reach their full potential. Through programs, events, and scholarships, YWE Foundation continues to make a lasting impact in the lives of women and San Bernardino and the Inland Empire.

LOUISVILLE, Ky., March 12, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — “It is with profound sadness that I share the news of my father’s passing. During this time, my family and I respectfully request privacy as we grieve the loss of our beloved father, grandfather, husband, and extraordinary family patriarch—a man whose strength, wisdom, and love touched so many lives.

Above all, my father was a man of deep faith, and his unwavering belief in God guided every aspect of his life. He instilled in me the importance of faith, integrity, and service, demonstrating what it truly means to lead with purpose and compassion. As both a daughter and a business leader, I am forever grateful for his mentorship, guidance, and the powerful example he set in both family life and professional excellence. He showed me what it meant to lead with integrity, to balance entrepreneurship with parenthood, and to create lasting positive change in our community.

His guiding presence and inspirational spirit will be forever missed. We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support and care extended to our family from his NBA family, the Louisville community, and beyond.”— Eden Bridgeman, EBONY CEO

By Angela M. Coggs

San Bernardino, CA- On Friday, February 28, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. the San Bernardino community, alongside Congressman Pete Aguilar and Maggie’s Kids Foundation, came together for a historic event the Dr. Margaret B. Hill U.S. Post Office Dedication Ceremony. This special occasion honored the legacy of Dr. Margaret B. Hill, a beloved educator, mentor, and advocate for children, by renaming the San Bernardino Del Rosa Post Office in her memory.

A Lasting Tribute to Dr. Hill

Dr. Margaret B. Hill dedicated her life to education and community service, making a profound impact on the lives of countless students and families in San Bernardino. Through her work as a teacher, administrator, and founder of MaggiesKidsFoundation, she empowered and inspired young people to achieve their dreams. Her legacy of kindness, leadership, and dedication continues to resonate throughout the community.

To ensure that Dr. Hill’s contributions are permanently honored, Congressman Pete Aguilar led efforts to secure the necessary signatures and legislative approval to rename the Del Rosa Post Office in her name. It was not an easy task however Aguilar was determined. This dedication stands as a lasting tribute to her unwavering commitment to education and the youth of San Bernardino.

During the ceremony, Congressman Aguilar, family members, and Maggie’s Kids Foundation representatives officially unveiled the plaque that was installed at the post office immediately after the ceremony. The San Bernardino Postmaster Edwin Mendoza was also present and spoke to attendees about this meaningful tribute and the impact of Dr. Hill’s lifelong dedication to the community.

A Community Celebration

To honor Dr. Hill’s memory, all attendees were encouraged to wear purple, a color that symbolizes her warmth, wisdom, and passion for education.

The event marked a historic moment for San Bernardino, ensuring that Dr. Hill’s name and legacy will live on in a place of everyday importance to the community. Although there was a swift breeze in the air, it was exhilarating to witness the celebration the extraordinary life of Dr. Margaret B. Hill and the lasting imprint she has left on generations to come.

SACRMENTO, CA – Assemblymember James C. Ramos (D-San Bernardino) named Eunice Abel, a youth advocate and undergraduate student, as 2025 Woman of the Year for Assembly District 45. Assemblymembers, including Ramos celebrated their honorees on the Assembly floor this month.

“Eunice is a tireless and steadfast advocate for young people in the Inland Empire and is dedicated to eliminating inequities,” Ramos said. “She is especially committed to addressing youth homelessness, a legislative priority for me since my election. Even at her young age of 22, she has built an exemplary record of positive action and contributions to our community,” Ramos stated.

Abel, born in Aba, Abia, Nigeria, immigrated to the United States at 11 years old and navigated life as an unaccompanied minor throughout her childhood. She confronted countless obstacles, including unstable housing, poverty and difficulty in accessing an education. This struggle fueled her passion for advocacy and inspired her to become a youth homeless advocate.

“This award is a testament to youth who are fighting to empower other youth, showing that our work is valuable and that standing up for others is not a waste of time,” Abel said.

She has served as a youth ambassador for non-profits that support underprivileged youth. In 2022

Abel was elected Chairperson for the Youth Advisory Board of San Bernardino County where she supported several initiatives to aid homeless youth in San Bernardino County. She later became Youth Leadership Coordinator and revived the Youth Advocacy Summit. This summit brought together legislators, service providers, and youth in San Bernardino County to raise awareness and facilitate meaningful conversation about youth homelessness.

Her advocacy extends to other policy areas that affect the overall well-being of California youth such as food insecurity, immigration and racial equity. Abel will graduate with her bachelor’s degree in public policy this spring from University of California, Riverside.

Only one of several dozen escaped dogs remains at large.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services was the victim of an early morning break-in on Wednesday, February 26 at its facility, resulting in the release of dozens of dogs and the discovery of four escaped dogs placed in a nearby trash dumpster. Authorities were on the scene shortly after the break-in and a person of interest is in custody on unrelated charges.

At approximately 4:45 am on February 26th, 2025, police responded to an emergency call for an overnight break-in. The suspect, who gained unlawful access to the premises using bolt cutters, cut the locks multiple kennels, releasing approximately 25 dogs.

San Bernardino Animal Services staff were able to locate and return all of the escaped dogs to the shelter except for one, who still remains at large. Four dogs were found in a nearby dumpster, believed to have been placed there by the person of interest.

“We are shocked by this event,” said Kristine Watson, San Bernardino Animal Services Director.

“The safety and well-being of the animals in our care are our top priority, and this action put many of our dogs in danger.”

The four dogs found in the dumpster were examined by the Animal Services veterinary care team.

All are in good condition and are expected to be available for adoption within
a few days.

The remaining missing dog is a cream Chihuahua named Louise (ID #A576436), who is both spayed and microchipped. Shelter staff are asking for the community’s assistance to help find Louise and have initiated a social media campaign to spread the word.

“We urge anyone with information about the whereabouts of Louise to contact us. Her safety is of utmost concern, and we are hopeful that someone will recognize her and help
us bring her back,” added Watson.

For updates or to report any sightings, please contact the City of San Bernardino Department of Animal Services at 909-998-4000 for any information on Louise.

In the meantime, Animal Services is pleased that the security measures in place at the shelter led to the quick response by the City of San Bernardino Police Department and the Department of Animal Services staff and resulted in the identification of a possible suspect.

“The support from the community as word has gotten out about the break-in has been overwhelming,” said Watson. “There are so many amazing animals at the shelter, we hope this will inspire area residents to visit our shelter to adopt, foster, volunteer, or donate.”