The news on Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) newest cast member was spreading the online media and social media world like wildfire on Monday, January 6. The reason for the excitement, astonishing announcement is because this new member of the popular television sitcom is a Afro-Centric woman by the name of Sasheer Zamata.

Zamata is an amazing actress, writer and comedian from New York. She hosts a weekly variety show called School Night at UCBNY on Wednesday nights at 11 p.m. In addition she performs improv with Doppelganger  and BUCKY on Harold Nights, which is also held at UCBNY.

This rising star  is set to make her debut on SNL on the January 18 episode, the same night that rap epitome Drake hosts the show.  The casting of the show came after showcases featuring Black female comedians were held in New York and Los Angeles after the long-running sketch series faces widespread criticism that the new stars of the fan favorite sitcom lacked minority faces and specifically the inclusion of an African-American woman.

For more information on the dynamic comedian and actress, follow her on Twitter @thesheertruth, like her on Facebook or visit her official website at sasheer.com. (Written by  Naomi Bonman)

Pastor Raymond Turner

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On Sunday, January 12 Temple Missionary Baptist Church will celebrate 76 years during an afternoon service at 3:30 p.m. To commemorate this special occasion, Pastor Charles R. Jones of St. Reed Missionary Baptist Church of Los Angeles will be the guest speaker. The church is located at 1583 W. Union Street in San Bernardino. For more information call the church office at 909-880-2038 or visit templemissionarybaptistchurch.org.

Free Food at Yo’ Mama’s Kitchen

Free Food at Yo’ Mama’s Kitchen

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- Who loves free food? If you said yes and are in or near the downtown San Bernardino area come out on Tuesday, January 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to Yo Mama’s Kitchen, 370 W. Court Street in San Bernardino, for a free meal and chance for your office to win meals for five employees, so don’t forget your business cards.
The restaurant serves a variety of food options which includes hot sandwiches, salads, hot dogs, chili dogs, homemade chili (five meats), nachos, chili cheese nachos and more. For more information, call 909-383-9100.

2014 Miss Black San Bernardino Contestants

SAN BERNARDINO, CA-It’s a new year with new roster of Miss Black San Bernardino contestants. The ladies that are in the running for the 2014 crown have been announced. “These young ladies are amazing and have been working hard for a chance to compete for the title of 2014 Miss Black San Bernardino,” Lori Keith, Pageant Coordinator, said.

The young women who will be gracing the stage will consist of April Butler, Alaysia Clark, Bobbie McFerson, Abigail Roney, LeAnn Pollard, Noelle Lilley and Ashley Roney. The event will be held on Saturday, January 25 at the Inghram Community Center located at 2050 Mt. Vernon Avenue, San Bernardino 92411. The program will begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are available at $20 per person.

For more information or to purchase a ticket, please contact Lori Keith via email at lokeygcd@gmail.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA- On the afternoon of Wednesday, December 18, WWAM Inc., and it’s business affiliates from around San Bernardino County hosted a special Christmas and Holiday Dinner for the homeless students of Juanita Blakely Jones Elementary School and their parents. Last year WWAM Inc. gave out Christmas presents to each homeless student. This year the organization made bags of toys to be distributed to each class room making each student in the school receive a gift; however, the dinner party was only for the homeless youth. Each family received Christmas food baskets. This event would not have been made successful without the help of local businesses and supportive sponsors which include Ramon Velasco, Principal at Juanita Blakely Jones Elementary; Dr. Margret Hill; Danny Tillman; WWAM Inc. staff; Mike, Orchid Thai Restaurant, 27266 Base Line Street, Highland; Riad Haddad,Phoenicia Greek and Lebanese Cuisine, 572 Orange Street, Redlands; Linda Ignacio, ABC Wic, 1505 W. “17th” Street in San Bernardino; and Nancy Gutierrez, gentle outreach specialist. Dr. Deborah Winn, CEO and Founder of WWAM Inc., along with her staff, Dr. Hill, Mr. Tillman and Principal Velasco will be working together in the next and upcoming years to change the homelessness crisis around to provide them with a place of residence. For more information or to donate to WWAM Inc., please call Dr. Deborah Winn 909-889-9509. WWAM Inc. is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit organization, and all donations count as a tax write-off.

I was in Tucson Arizona on that unforgettable Sunday morning in 1990 when Nelson Mandela was released from prison as I sat transfixed when he was sworn in as South Africa’s first democratically-elected president who happened to be a black man. His death on December 5 made me recount the times and ways he had touched my life.
I became more conscious of the man when the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW), under the leadership of president Dr. Dorothy I. Height, urged the membership to support Winnie Mandela who was being persecuted by the government while her husband suffered at Robbin Island. I was aware of apartheid and the ANC already; and wanted to know more about the man and the plight of his people. I read two books by South African writer, Mark Mathabane, who painted a starkly brutal picture of life for black people in the country.
In 1985, I attend the UN Decade for Women Conference in Nairobi, Kenya with the NCNW where we met 20 South African women who were there without the consent of their government and did not know what would happen to them when they returned home. They said they did not care as they would rather be dead than continue to live the harsh conditions imposed on them. They were inspired by the courageous resistance practiced by Mandela and our delegation discussed the situation with the ladies several times.
Following the conference, our group visited the small country landlocked by South Africa: Swaziland, a kingdom never colonized by a foreign power; we had to go through Johannesburg to get to the country. The women there had replicated the NCNW’s Mississippi Pig Project and we were there to see their progress. We visited with the wives of the king who applauded our joint venture. We talked about the women who were selling their livestock in South Africa, they said “We are neighbors-not friends” and they identified with the struggles of Mandela and his people, but had no other market for their product.
On the way home we encountered a heavy police presence in the Johannesburg airport and I checked the newspaper which stated “BOTHA DECLARES EMERGENCY”. Dr. Height suggested we all buy a paper as it could mean we were seeing the beginning of the end to apartheid, but no one could have predicted that only five years later the end would come. In the meantime, NCNW joined the movement to divest in South Africa.
The local NCNW led a large group to the Los Angeles Coliseum to see Nelson and Winnie Mandela during their American tour where thousands of cheering devotees welcomed the couple to the southland. Soon after  I discovered his biography, “Long Walk to Freedom”  which I highly recommend. It reveals an extraordinary man who never lost his dignity under oppression, one who studied his captors and used what he learned to outwit them and win them over. The book has recently been made into a movie featuring British actor, Idris Elba. Readers will learn a lot about the country, as well as the man.
The most important encounter I had was up close and personal, early into the new century, around the year 2000, I had gone to Washington DC for a Workforce Development meeting and called Dr. Height to chat. She invited me to be her guest at a high level international function that night. Thanks to Dr. Height, I got to meet Nelson Mandela, Gracla Marchal, who was being honored,  and Bishop Tutu. Mandela was a tall, stately man whose eyes exuded brilliance and he looked right at you as if you were important to him. Oh what a night! President Mandela said, “It is not that I have no fear but that I had to act in spite of my fear”. That was the same attitude the 20 women exhibited in Nairobi.
It was the book that finally gave me the in depth view of the man and I encourage readers to read the three books I referred to earlier: The Long Walk to Freedom and African Women by Mathabane.  (Written by Lois J. Carson, San Bernardino resident)

It’s Kwanzaa Time – WSSNEWSPAPER

LOS ANGELES, CA- The Kwanzaa Heritage Foundation will be hosting their 12th annual block party, Kwanzaa Heritage Festival and candle lighting ceremony from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, December 28 at Leimert Park Village-Vision Lot, 4300 Deghan Boulevard in Los Angeles. This a free event for the whole family which will feature live music, traditional dancing, a drum circle, an international food court, the Kwanzaa Heritage Marketplace, a health pavilion and a children’s village that includes face painting. This is an event that you don’t want to miss out on, so come down and get educated and have fun while learning about the history of Kwanzaa. For more information, please call 323-789-0580, email Kwanzala7@yahoo.com or visit www.KwanzaaHeritage.org.

Teddy Lee Hooker and Raquel All Stars every Sunday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Raquel’s Jazz Lounge, 134 S. Riverside Avenue in Rialto. For more information call 909-874-1976.

basketball tryouts

The City of San Bernardino Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department is offering a Youth Basketball League for youth ages 8 to 17 years of age. Those who turn 18 of age before April 30, 2014 are ineligible to participate. The program includes instruction in basketball fundamentals, basic skills, practices and games. Registration is currently taking place and will continue until February 10, 2014. Fees are $20 for city residents and $22 for non-residents. Fees include certificate of participation, a t-shirt, a trophy and six weeks of play. Individuals and teams may register at the Parks, Recreation, & Community Services Main Office located at 201 North ‘E’ Street, Suite 301, San Bernardino, 92401, or at your local community center. For additional information on this and other youth sports programs, please call 909-384-5420.

A young member of the Matibolo Cultural Troupe poses in front of a poster of Nelson Mandela during celebrations for the anti-apartheid leader’s birthday. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

NATIONAL- (By Naomi K. Bonman) Last Thursday we lost a legend; however, he may be gone in the physical, but his spirit and legacy will continue to live on decades and generations to come. Nelson Mandela taught us the value of freedom and accomplishing our dreams and goals. He taught us that no matter what obstacles may come our way, we can always overcome them.

My favorite quote by Mr. Mandela is, “There is no easy walk to freedom anywhere, and many of us will have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death again and again before we reach the mountaintop of our desires.” This quote reminds me that when we have greater goals and dreams than we can ever imagine, that we will have to work hard and remain patient and very consistent. There will always be road blocks on the way to success and sometimes some of us will face greater roadblocks than others, but we must always remember that God will never place more on us than we can bear. Some of us are stronger soldiers and can conquer more than other, and Mr. Mandela was one of those remarkable and strong soldiers.

He not only left a lasting impression on my life, but he also left an impression and inspired others throughout the world.

“His change was monumental. Legendary. Brave. Daring. He’s inspired me to make decisions that will make a difference. He’s inspired me to focus on what I can do today. He’s also inspired me to know this for sure: It’s not about you.” -Kareem Taylor, New York

“Today, the Young Democrats of America pause to remember a leader whose message of freedom and equality transcends race, age and national borders. We are greatly saddened by his passing, but he lived a tremendous life to the benefit of others and to the great sacrifice of himself. He continued to fight with the belief that a nation stands at its greatest height when it stands for equality, fairness, justice and opportunity for all.”- Atima Omara, president of the Young Democrats of America

“I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Mandela family for their loss. Nelson Mandela is one of the most highly regarded, highly respected individuals of all time. He was an effective leader that focused on relationship building and inclusiveness. His ability to maintain peace and love even through adversity speaks volumes about his character. Today, I respectfully stand with my colleagues in the California Legislative Black Caucus, as we remember his life, accomplishments and good deeds.” -Assemblymember Cheryl Brown

(Article written by Naomi K. Bonman)