In the fantasy of White supremacy, traitors like Jefferson Davis and other Confederates are memorialized for being freedom fighters — the freedom of whites to own black human beings and work them to death — while a woman who risked her life time and again to free enslaved people is simply dismissed. Ignored. Erased. ... read more »

Over 100 girls from South Los Angeles came out to start off the 8-week summer program that will teach them the ins and outs of softball, along with life lessons on teamwork and dedication. As a former softball player for UCLA, Watley also gives college softball players an opportunity of mentorship as the coaches of the 27teams. Partnered with the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, The Natasha Watley Softball League (NWSL) continues to provide its no-fee softball summer program at parks throughout Los Angeles for girls ages 8 to 15.  ... read more »

When Jamaal Brown, creator of the Black 365 Calendar and Knowledge Bowl was a kid in Palmdale, California, his aspirations were less than lofty. For a class assignment that had prompted him to think about his future career choices, it was a no brainer: either an athlete, a drug dealer, entertainer or a gang member. There were two things wrong with his list, he said. ... read more »

I’m a doctor and a scientist.  When we’re looking to solve a problem, we’re a lot like detectives. We follow the evidence. ... read more »

“The future of our country depends on you and millions of others lifting our voices to fight for our American values,” said Harris, the first African-American woman, and the third woman overall, to announce her candidacy for the 2020 election. ... read more »

Here are the top local stories of 2018 ... read more »

Leadership is powerful. True leadership is an action word and is more about others than one’s self. Which means leaders have a responsibility that surpasses that of most others. ... read more »

This November we have a chance to participate in our democracy and make it more just. ... read more »

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Traveling across the country as well as abroad allows one to take in a variety of opinions and perspectives. Understanding different attitudes and points of view can help navigate the awkwardness of sensitive topics that I was curious to discuss. As I traveled through various parts of Italy and Greece recently, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts about forgiveness, humanity, hope, peace, love and happiness to a variety of people and what I found is that all of us have the same basic concerns.  One of those concerns pertains to the direction the world and mankind is headed in today’s political and global climate, but overall people still believe in humanity and that goodness will prevail.  ... read more »

Rep. Waters has both the right and responsibility to speak truth to power and speak truth to the people. And we as a people and a community also have the right and responsibility to confront evil and injustice everywhere. Indeed, we must not and will not let our silence suggest consent, our inaction suggest agreement or our reluctance to confront and resist give encouragement for greater evils, injustice and oppression. ... read more »

I recently joined a gathering of Black women leaders in Sacramento to discuss the well-being of Black women in California. It was a pretty amazing feeling to be in a roomful of women leaders from across the state—elected officials, ... read more »

Just weeks before his death, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke about “the other America.” While “one America is flowing with the milk of prosperity and the honey of equality,” there is another America with “a daily ugliness about it that transforms the buoyancy of hope into the fatigue of despair. ... read more »

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. didn't plan to get involved in the Memphis garbage worker's strike. He hadn't planned to be there on the fateful day when he was shot on April 4, 1968. King was pressured to go the first time and found the garbage worker's strike compelling. He promised to return, and felt it important to keep his word, despite a packed schedule. ... read more »

Rev Dr Martin Luther King is one of the greatest leaders history has ever known and yet I’m afraid that though his name is internationally recognized, we have, as a nation, yet to fully comprehend the man and his ideas. ... read more »