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By Gloria Zuurveen

Editor-in-Chief

LOS ANGELES—Here we go again with the dismal statistics about black homeless people in Los Angeles at the beginning of a new year.

I say that because since 2017 we have been reporting on the sin of racism when it comes to black homelessness in Los Angeles. So recently, when I came across the New York Times article dated two days before Christmas, December 22, 2019, when most people were out finishing their last minute shopping, I took the time to read what was being said about Los Angeles black homelessness.

Well, first of all, the multiple writers got the stats right. They, as we also noted, that while there are only 8 percent of blacks in Los Angeles county, they make up 42 percent of the homeless population. What really stood out in the report was that Peter Lynn, the former head of the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, said discrimination played a major role in the origins of the crisis. “There is a staggering overrepresentation of black people in homelessness, and that is not based on poverty,” he said. “That is based on structural and institutional racism.”

Photo By: Alain McLaughlin

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media 

“Throughout the course of our history, there have been many moments in time where truth must be spoken. Truth that oftentimes make people uncomfortable, but truth that must be acknowledged so people can be seen and be heard,” said Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA), who announced her bid to run for President of the United States in late January.   “Truth must be spoken from a voice that is trusted,” she continued. “And we know therefore the value, significance and need for the Black press in America.

By Justin Ray, CJR  

by Cynthia Littleton

Disney has finalized its deal to sell 21 Fox regional sports networks to Sinclair Broadcast Group in a transaction valued at $10.6 billion. Byron Allen, the entrepreneur behind Entertainment Studios, has teamed with Sinclair as an equity partner in the newly formed Diamond Holding Group.

The agreement covers outlets serving major markets around the country. The RSNs have local rights to 42 professional teams, including 14 Major League Baseball teams, NBA teams and 12 NHL teams. Last year, the 21 channels delivered $3.8 billion in revenue across 74 million subscribers.

“This is a very exciting transaction for Sinclair to be able to acquire highly complementary assets,” said Chris Ripley, president- CEO of Sinclair. “While consumer viewing habits have shifted, the tradition of watching live sports and news remains ingrained in our culture. As one of the largest local news producers in the country and an experienced producer of sports content, we are ideally positioned to transfer our skills to deliver and expand our focus on greater premium sports programming.”

Photo By: Russell Stiger Jr.:  Town hall panelist Dr. Margaret Fortune, President/CEO, Fortune School, Larry Lee, Publisher, The Sacramento Observer,  Dr.Romel Antoine, Director Regulatory Affairs, California Charter Schools AssociationHazel Mahone, Professor Emeritus, Sacramento State University and, Pastor Tecoy Porter, President of National Action Network, Sacramento Chapter at Is School Choice is the Black Choice? Hosted by Roland Martin April 23 at the St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Sacramento. 

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media   

African-American children are California’s lowest performing group of students, only above students with special needs. Only 2 percent of Black kids in the state attend schools that are considered “high performing.” And only 10 majority African-American schools, located mostly in hard-to-count, high-poverty census tracts around the Bay Area and Los Angeles, score, on average, above the state math and language arts requirements. 

On top of that, nearly 68 percent of all African-American students in California perform below their grade level in English and language arts. In math, about 80 percent of Black students fail to meet the state’s proficiency mark. Please see video reference Charter Schoolbelow.

Photo By CBM:  First African Methodist Episcopal Church FAME, the oldest church in Los Angeles founded by African Americans in 1872 posted signage at their information desk a few years ago because of attacks on houses of worship. Rev. J Edgar Boyd is the pastor of this church

By Tanu Henry | California Black Media 

 African-American churches, mosques and other religious organizations are among vulnerable non-profits in California eligible to apply for security grants after Gov. Gavin Newsom approved $15 million in emergency funds this week to help religious and community based groups protect themselves against hate crimes.   and possibly a federal civil rights violation.  

Rep. Bass Statement On Violence In Venezuela

WASHINGTON – Today, Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations issued the following statement after Juan Guaidó called for an uprising against the government of President Nicolás Maduro and indicated he had military support.

IN MEMORIAM: John Singleton Dead at 51

Rep. Waters Statement on the Death of John Singleton

WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Maxine Waters (CA-43) issued a statement on the death of Oscar nominated director and highly acclaimed filmmaker John Daniel Singleton who died at the age of 51:

“My heart is heavy with the news that one of the world’s greatest directors and storytellers, and one of South Los Angeles’ most beloved sons -- John Daniel Singleton -- has died. There is perhaps no other filmmaker in history that has so artfully chronicled the story and spirit of South Los Angeles as John Singleton. I am among the millions of people around the world who are mourning the loss of this iconic and once in a generation creative talent. I extend my heartfelt sympathy to his parents, children, relatives, and friends.