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By Tanu Henry | California Black Media

The California Legislative Black Caucus (CLBC) announced March 10 that it has introduced legislation to repeal proposition 209.

The bill is called ACA 5 or the California Act for Economic Prosperity.

“Since becoming law in 1996, Proposition 209 has cost women-and-minority-owned businesses $1.1 billion each year,” said Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), who is chair of the CLBC.

“It has perpetuated a wage gap where women make 80 cents on every dollar made by men and has allowed discriminatory hiring and contracting processes to continue unhindered,” Weber continued.

Weber announced the bill at the California state Capitol flanked by members of the CLBC, the  California Legislative Women’s Caucus, other progressive lawmakers, as well as  supporters like Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

In 1996, after a heated public debate divided Californians who supported Proposition 209 and those who opposed it, voters passed the ballot initiative.

Also known as the California Civil Rights Initiative, Prop 209 outlawed the consideration of race and gender in hiring, awarding state contracts, college admissions, policymaking, and even in most forms of official state documentation.

The entire CLBC co-authored ACA 5. And supporters range from churches and civil rights organizations to community based organizations, labor unions and legal aid providers.

Besides Weber, other members of the CLBC are: Senators Steven Bradford (D-Los Angeles) and Holly J. Mitchell (D-Los Angeles); and Assemblymembers Autumn Burke (D-South Bay, Los Angeles), Jim Cooper (D-Sacramento), Mike Gipson (D-Carson), Chris R. Holden (D-Pasadena), Reginald Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), Sydney Kamlager (D-Los Angeles), and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento). 

By Aldon Thomas Stiles | California Black Media  

After a tough battle with Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT), former Vice President Joseph Biden sealed the frontrunner position in the race for the Democratic Party U.S. presidential nominee on Super Tuesday. Sanders; however, snatched a few key victories, one of which was California with 29.5 percent of the vote.

So far, Biden has picked up 390 Democratic National Convention delegates compared to Sanders’ 330.

The 2020 presidential primary election took place in California, 13 other states, and one U.S. territory (American Samoa) Tuesday March 3. Voters got the opportunity to back their favorite candidate to challenge President Donald Trump in November’s general election.

With five Democratic candidates remaining, after Mayor Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race this past Sunday and Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s withdrawal Monday, Super Tuesday was a pivotal moment for presidential hopefuls.

Then, a day after the former U.S. vice president’s big win, former New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg dropped out of the race and endorsed Biden, his former rival for the nomination.

Over the course of their campaigns, Democratic candidates have relied on several different demographics to help swing votes in their favor. One such demographic is African Americans, and these candidates all had strategies to secure that vote.

Some relied on targeted advertising blitzes. Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Bloomberg’s camps all ran campaign advertisements touting relationships with former President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, Sanders continued to invoke his involvement in the civil rights movement and his relationship with prominent progressive personalities like recording artist Michael Santiago “Killer Mike” Render.

Biden also claimed to have been arrested in South Africa in the 1970s while attempting to meet Nelson Mandela. He has since retracted that claim following evidence to the contrary.

Before Super Tuesday, in the South Carolina primaries this past weekend, Biden led the race with Black voters, clinching 61 percent of the Black vote, according to Washington Post exit polls. Sanders trailed Biden with 15 percent of the Black vote.

On Super Tuesday, Biden secured 72 percent of the Black vote in Alabama, 71 percent in Virginia, 62 percent in North Carolina and 53 percent in Tennessee, according to USA Today.

Bloomberg has had some controversy regarding Black voters resulting from his “stop-and-frisk” policies when he was mayor of New York City and from subsequent statements he made in 2015 defending said policies.

“So one of the unintended consequences is people say, ‘Oh my God, you are arresting kids for marijuana that are all minorities,’” Bloomberg said in his 2015 speech. “Yes, that’s true. Why? Because we put all the cops in minority neighborhoods… Why do we do it? Because that’s where all the crime is.”

Despite this, Bloomberg secured endorsements from several prominent African-American politicians like Assemblymember  Shirley A. Weber, chair of the California Legislative Black Caucus. Some Black members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) endorsed the former New York City mayor as well.

Several high-profile lawmakers, including U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) — as well as former presidential candidates Buttigieg and Klobuchar — have endorsed Biden.

 Former President Barack Obama also gave Biden his blessing.

Warren only won 12 delegates, placing her last on Super Tuesday behind Bloomberg, who picked up 36. 

RIVERSIDE, CA— In a historic win, Corey A. Jackson projected to become the first African American elected to be Riverside County Board of Education. After being outspent by over $100,000, Corey Jackson won convincingly defeating the California Charter School Association’s candidate.

“The corporate charter school lobby tried to buy this election. The community fought back because our votes are not for sale,” said Corey Jackson.

Corey A. Jackson, a local nonprofit leader and civil rights leader specializing in youth development, culturally responsive interventions and social justice issues. He currently serves as the founder and Chairman/CEO of the SBX Youth and Family Services whose mission is to break the cycle of poverty and violence through mentoring, education, and community organizing. Mr. Jackson is an expert in Afrocentric interventions for middle school and high school adolescents. Continuing to serve his community, he serves as the President of the Moreno Valley City-Wide Coalition, Political Action Chair of the Riverside NAACP.

He also serves as Youth Minister at the Moreno Valley Church of Christ. Being appointed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to the California State University Board of Trustees, Corey represented over 400,000 thousand students in the largest and most respected public higher education system in the nation from 2004-2006.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County (CAPSBC) partnered with Assemblymember Eloise Gomez-Reyes, First 5 of San Bernardino, San Bernardino County Preschool Services Department, Golden State Opportunities, and the San Bernardino Rotary Club hosted VITA DAY 2020 on Saturday, February 29. 

VITA DAY 2020 was a day of family fun including not only free tax assistance, but also a kid zone, face painting, free tacos, a resource fair, and the opportunity for families to take photos in front of San Bernardino County Fire Department’s firetruck.

“The VITA program has long been an important component in helping families in San Bernardino County maximize their tax credits and avoid unnecessary fees at tax time, which helps them keep more of the money they earn,” said CAPSBC President and CEO Patricia Nickols-Butler. “For our VITA DAY event, we wanted to make it easy for eligible families to access free tax assistance as well as have a fun family day.”

Last year, Governor Gavin Newsome expanded the CalEITC (California Earned Income Tax Credit) and introduced the YCTC (Young Child Tax Credit), which continue to put more money back into the pockets of our families. According to the California Budget & Policy Center, the combination of federal EITC and Child Tax Credits cuts poverty directly by providing a tax refund to boost families’ incomes, and indirectly by boosting work earnings through providing an incentive to seek work. State EITCs build on the federal program to further help reduce poverty through state tax credits. On average, between 2015 and 2017, EITC and federal Child Tax Credits lifted nearly 1.3 million people in California – including 463,000 children – out of poverty each year, according to a Center on Budget and Policy Priorities analysis based on the Supplemental Poverty Measure.

Individuals and families must file their tax returns in order to find out if they are eligible for any tax credits. Tax credits are available at both the state and federal levels.

For those who were not able to attend VITA DAY, CAPSBC will continue to provide free tax assistance Monday through Friday by appointment only until Wednesday, April 15th. Those interested should call Charles Blythe at 909-723-1571. For VITA program free tax assistance in other parts of San Bernardino County, please visit irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to find a site near you.

LOS ANGELES, CA—- The Pan African Film and Arts Festival (PAFF) wrapped its 12-day marathon of offerings from around the Diaspora.  It celebrated its 28^th anniversary in grand style with a string of highly-anticipated films, which included a comedy by the multi-hyphenated host and entertainer Nick Cannon; a feature, executive produced by NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal; plus, a special screening of the action-packed series, “Queen Sono,” out of South Africa, presented by Netflix along with a wedding! The festival was held from February 11 – 23, 2020 at the Cinemark 15 Theatres, located at the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza in Los Angeles. 

PAFF is the largest Black film festival in the United States and the largest Black History Month cultural event in the nation. Here are the festival stats: PAFF has selected a record-breaking 225 film, representing 52 countries in 26 languages – that is, 86 feature films; 128 short films and 11 new media selection. Plus, ArtFest will feature more than 100 fine artists from around the world. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has designated PAFF as an official qualifying film festival for live action and animation short films.

The festival has cemented its role as a hub for breakthrough and award-winning Black films and filmmakers from around the world. PAFF is dedicated to the cinematic promotion and cultural exploration of peoples of African descent. It is PAFF’s goal to present and showcase the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy negative stereotypes. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understanding and foster communication between peoples of diverse cultures, races, ethnicities, and lifestyles in an entertaining way.

The festival handed out a variety of juried prizes, including Best Narrative Feature, Best First Feature Film, Best Documentary Feature, Best Documentary Short, and Best Narrative Short as well as audience favorite awards during an awards ceremony at the close of the festival.

In honor of the late actress and co-founder Ja’Net Dubois, who unexpectedly passed away during the festival, prizes were re-named in her honor. Dubois was best known for her role as Willona in the TV series, “Good Times.” 

And so, without further ado, here’s a list of winners from the Pan African Film Festival. 

AND THE WINNERS ARE …

Best Feature Narrative Award

The Mercy of the Jungle (Rwanda) Directed by Joël Karekezi

Honorable mention

Knuckle City (South Africa) Directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka

Best First Feature Narrative Award

A Taste of Our Land (Uganda) Directed by Yuhi Amuli

Honorable Mention

Mr. Weekend (US) Directed by McKenzie Woodward

Best Documentary Award

One Child Left Behind: The Untold Atlanta Cheating Scandal (US) Directed by Jodi Gomes

Honorable Mention

PUSHOUT: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools (US) Directed by Jacoba Atlas

Best Short Narrative Award

White Gold (South Africa) Directed by Luke Bradford

Honorable mention

My Father Belize (Belize) Directed by Leon Lozano

Programmers’ Best Narrative Feature

She Ball (US) Directed by Nick Cannon

Programmers’ Best Short Narrative

Sixteen Thousand Dollars (US) Directed by Symone Baptiste

Programmers’ Best Documentary Award

parTy boi: black diamonds in ice castles (US) Directed by Micheal Rice

Programmers’ Best First Feature Narrative Award (Tie)

Coming From Insanity (Nigeria) Directed by Akinyemi Sebastian Akinropo

Gonarezhou The Movie (Zimbabwe) Directed by Sydney Taivavashe

Special Programmers’ Award

The Cuban (Canada/Cuba) Directed by Sergio Navarretta

Ja’Net Feature Narrative Award

HERO – Inspired By The Extraordinary Life & Times of Mr. Ulric Cross (Canada/Trinidad and Tobago/Ghana/UK) Directed by Frances-Anne Solomon

Ja’Net Short Narrative Award

Code_Switch (US) Directed by Sigin Ojulu

Ja’Net Documentary Award

My Friend Fela (Brazil/Nigeria) Directed by Joel Zito Araújo

Ja’Net First Feature Narrative Award

Zulu Wedding (South Africa) Directed by Lineo Sekeleoane

Special Ja’Net Award

Foster Boy (US) Directed by Youssef Delara

This year’s theme was “It Takes a Village. Let’s Vote” to commemorate the 150^th Anniversary of the Black People’s Right to Vote

Write-up by Naomi K. Bonman

RIVERSIDE, CA— The sun was shining and the community came out to enjoy the sunshine at the 41^st Annual Riverside Black History Parade on Saturday, February 8 held in Downtown Riverside. Many parade goers, as well as the vendors, applauded this year’s parade success. Several vendors sold out of food at the expo.

Tommy the Clown made his return in the parade and expo as well as several local drill teams. However, there was a newcomer to the parade: Compton High School’s drum squad made a highlight to the parade. There was a total of over 70 entries in this year’s parade.

This year’s grand marshal was Riverside’s NAACP Chapter’s president, Regina Patton Stell, which was perfect in complimenting the theme for the parade, which was “It Takes a Village. Let’s Vote”. The 15th Amendment, stating that the right to vote could not be denied based on “race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” was ratified Feb. 3, 1870.

Planning for the 42^nd Annual Riverside Black History Parade is already in motion. If you would like to be involved and volunteer, please visit www.adcrfoundation.org.

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By Naomi K. Bonman

Just a couple of weeks ago we loss NBA legend and MVP, Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna Bryant. On Tuesday, February 18, the Hollywood world is mourning the sudden death of Ja’Net Dubois. She was 74-years old and passed away peacefully in her sleep in her Glendale, California home.

According to TMZ, a cause of death was not immediately given and Dubois’ family stated that she hadn’t complained of any pain or illness in the days leading up to her death.

A few years ago, I had the pleasure to meet and photograph Ja’Net Dubois at the Pan African American Film Festival (PAFF) in Los Angeles on multiple occasions. She was seen across multiple red carpets at various events. For those who do not know, Dubois co-founded PAFF in 1992. PAFF showcases “the broad spectrum of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive images and help destroy the negative stereotypes”.

Ms. Dubois played the role of Willona Woods on the 70s sitcom “Good Times”. She went on to become a two-time Emmy Award winner for her voice-over work on the animated series “The PJs” and in 1969 she won a Peabody Award for the CBS children’s movie “J.T.”.

Throughout the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, Dubois appeared in almost every hit TV series, which include: Hangin’ with Mr. Cooper, Cold Case, Everybody Loves Raymond, Touched By An Angel, The Wayans Bros. and Moesha.

The actress was also featured in big screen films, which include: Heart Condition (1990) alongside Denzel Washington, Waterproof (2000) alongside with Burt Reynolds, and recently She’s Got a Plan (2016).

In addition to her acting career, Ja’Net released an album showcasing her vocal talents in 2008 entitled, “Hidden Treasures”.

Ja’Net Dubois is survived by her three children: Rani, Burghardt, and Yovanne Dubois.

CORONA, CA—- Meet legendary Yolanda Holder, a professional ultramarathon walker and a long-distance endurance athlete.  At age 61 she is breaking boundaries in the ultra-marathon world.  On January 25, 2020, Yolanda became the first African American Woman to finish a 50K Race Walk placing 6^th in the Women’s National Championship 50K Race Walk and the 2020 National 50K Age Group Champion and won a purse of $1000.

In 2019, Yolanda became the first African American Woman and second African American to earn a United States Race Walk Centurion #94 and the oldest person to race walk 100 miles in under 24 hours (23:52:17).  Also, in 2019 at the Six Days in the Dome in Milwaukee, she set a World and American Age Group Record (60-64) 413 miles in six days.

Yolanda’s list of accomplishments as a walker that competes with runners in long.  She’s a two-time Guinness World Record holder for “Most Marathons Completed in a Calendar Year”, finishing a staggering 106 marathons/ultras in 2010 and breaking her own record in 2012 finishing 120 marathons/ultras.  She is the first American Woman and African American to Run or Walk over 100 marathons in a calendar year and the first woman in the world to ever do it twice.

Yolanda’s accomplishments are amazing, at the 2017 Sri Chinmoy Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race she set a World Record first Pedestrian (walker) to walk the entire race finishing in 51 Days, 17 hours and 13 seconds.  She is also the first African American male or female, runner or walker to ever compete in this brutal footrace. The Sri Chinmoy 3100 Mile Race called “The Mount Everest of ultramarathons” by The New York Times, this is the longest certified footrace in the world that is held in the heat of the summer in New York. The athletes can test themselves in a f format unlike any other ultra-marathon event. In order to meet their goal of 3100 miles in 52 days, they must log an average of 60 miles per day. The race starts at 6am and the athletes have until midnight when the course closes for the night.  Yolanda is known as the Walking Diva and she took 52 outfits looking very stylist as she finished each day.

Yolanda is a master’s athlete at her athletic peak setting and breaking World and American records with no plans on stopping.  What’s special and close to her heart is “Extreme Walk 4 Diabetes”, an annual event she founded in honor of her parents. Losing both her parents to this horrible disease she promotes healthy living through Walking 4 Your Health.  Walking a mile or more daily and making small changes to your eating habits can help control not only diabetes but all diseases.  She practices what she preaches for over two years daily, she walks a mile or more, a headstand, a plank, drinks waters, and writes down what’s she’s grateful for.  Her purpose in life is to inspire and motivate everyone to take care of their health by moving your body daily.

Yolanda is a wife, mother of two grown children, inspirational speaker, and author.

If you would like to hear more of Yolanda’s amazing story she’s available for speaking engagements and can be reach at yolandaholder@gmail.com or on Facebook.

LOS ANGELES, CA—- The NAACP recently announced that global music and fashion icon, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Rihanna, will receive the prestigious President’s Award during the 51st NAACP Image Awards. The President’s Award is presented in recognition of special achievement and distinguished public service, with previous recipients including last year’s recipient Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Jesse Jackson, Lauryn Hill, Soledad O’Brien, Colin Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Muhammad Ali among others. NAACP President Derrick Johnson will present the award to Rihanna during a LIVE TV special on BET on Saturday, February 22, 2020, from Pasadena, California.

“Rihanna has not only enjoyed a groundbreaking career as an artist and musician but has also distinguished herself as a stellar public servant,” said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP. “From her business achievements through Fenty to her tremendous record as an activist and philanthropist, Rihanna epitomizes the type of character, grace, and devotion to justice that we seek to highlight in our President’s Award.”

Alongside her incredible musical achievements, which include nine GRAMMY awards, Rihanna continues to add more credits to her burgeoning resume: executive producer, fashion designer, actress, business entrepreneur, and philanthropist. Rihanna never stops breaking barriers and has built beauty and fashion empires with global beauty brand FE?TY Beauty, lingerie brand SAVAGE x FENTY, and the recently launched luxury fashion brand FE?TY, which saw her become the first woman of color to partner with LVMH and the first woman to start an original brand for the world’s largest luxury group. 

Rihanna has also used her influence for good through philanthropic efforts. Chief among these is her own Clara Lionel Foundation. The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) was founded in 2012 by Rihanna in honor of her grandparents, Clara and Lionel Braithwaite. CLF supports and funds groundbreaking and effective education and emergency response programs around the world. With the voices of Rihanna and her fans, CLF also engages in global advocacy with the goal of improving the quality of life for young people everywhere.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- In celebration of Black History Month, San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) will offer a variety of events throughout February to educate, engage, and inspire students and the public.

The Black History Month Breakfast will take place February 21 at 9 a.m. in the SBVC Sunroom, Campus Center. Attendees will celebrate the cultural contributions and deep history of the African American community by hearing guest speaker La Quette Bush-Simmons and recognizing the contributions of honorees Jerry Mason, Kim Epps, Pat Nichols and James Ramos. This annual event is hosted by SBVC, San Bernardino Community College District’s Black Faculty and Staff Association, and the SBVC Arts, Lectures, and Diversity Committee. Parking and admission are FREE.

SBVC Arts, Lectures and Diversity Committee will partner with the Precinct Reporter Newspaper to present a dance performance of Black Butterfly, featuring Project21Dance on February 27 in the SBVC Auditorium. A community reception will begin at 6 p.m., and the performance will follow at 7 p.m. This event will prove to be an evening of eclectic modern dance, profound spoken word and exquisite Songs of the African Journey. Parking and admission are FREE.

Wrapped in Royalty is a workshop on traditional African head wraps and will be offered February 28 at 1 p.m. in the SBVC Business Building, Room 100.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/sbvcartsandlectures.