Black News

City of Los Angeles Kicks-off African American Heritage Month Observance 

For the 74th consecutive year, the City of Los Angeles and Our Authors Study Club are uniting to present a variety of events to observe African American Heritage Month. Mayor Karen Bass assembled a committee headed by Public Works Commissioner Mike Davis and OASC President Lura Daniels-Ball to present free programs for all ages to be held at venues throughout the city. Danny J. Bakewell, Jr. is the honorary chair for citywide celebration, Wendy Raquel Robinson is the ambassador for the OASC Carter G. Woodson Oratorical Contest, and William Allen Young will serve as a contest judge. Activities kick-off on

Claudine Gay Ousted as Harvard’s First Black President – But Why? 

Dr. Claudine Gay’s tenure as President of Harvard lasted only six months. Why was she forced to resign? The top-reported line is her plagiarism (which has been conceded) and her not-so-robust statements to a Republican led U. S. House of Representatives committee against antisemitism on Harvard’s campus.

Barbara Lee Leads Progressive Agenda in Senatorial Debate 

As Barbara Lee stepped off the stage following the first California Senatorial Debate, she felt good about the agenda and vision she articulated for the country.

She said “I shared my vision for this country – one where we as a country take a stand for unconditional peace, progress, and change. One where we center the voices of minorities in this country, and don’t just go along with the status quo that has promoted hate and racism for too long.”

Being Steadfast and Strong in Life and Struggle: Reflecting the Foundation, Modelling the Mountain 

In this month of invited meditation, making resolutions and deep reflection about ourselves and the state of things in the world, I turn to the teachings of our honored ancestors, founded especially in our sacred texts, the Husia and the Odu Ifa. And I always find in them a rich, ever ready and invaluable source for constant grounding, and for asking questions and seeking answers to the fundamental issues that confront African peoples and the world.  

National Urban League CEO Celebrates New LAUL President  

National Urban League President/CEO Marc H. Morial is on a high note, but isn’t he always. Coming fresh off the success of his new critically-acclaimed HBO documentary, “Gumbo Coalition,” aptly named for his energetic leadership style and the title for the most recent version of his book, “The Gumbo Coalition: 10 Leadership Lessons That Help You Inspire, Unite, and Achieve,” the former New Orleans mayor who also served as president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors made a landmark visit to Los Angeles to celebrate the Los Angeles Urban League’s newly installed President & CEO Cynthia Mitchell-Heard.  

Is the World a Better Place Because Dr. King Lived? 

When I was running my event management company, I had the privilege for many years of working on two major celebrations honoring the memory of Dr. King.  First, King Week under the direction of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Greater Los Angeles (SCLC-GLA); second, the Kingdom Day Parade with the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE).