By Dianne Anderson Social justice, criminal justice, and diversity awareness has stepped up the conversation for activists and students a few notches this past year in light of continued protests against police brutality and increased hate crime, sometimes both occupying the same space. In Orange County, late numbers show that the African American population is ...

By Quinci LeGardye California Black Media     In the Aug. 16 premiere of the HBO show “Lovecraft Country,” created by Misha Green and based on the novel of the same name by Matt Ruff, the main characters drive past a sign that reads “[N-word]s, don’t let the sun set on you here. Understand?” Towns that banned African Americans in the mid-20th century would, either ...

By Antonio Ray Harvey and Manny Otiko California Black Media This past weekend, the Mississippi Legislature approved the removal of the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag. It’s a sign of the times, historians say, that speaks to the turning spirit of the nation – even happening in a state that has remained a proud stronghold, clinging to enduring customs that nod to a romanticized version of the “Old South.” Gov. Tate Reeves said he will sign the bill into law. The deep south state ...

By Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr. Today, Americans are facing unprecedented times. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, our country has fallen into an economic recession, and hundreds of thousands are protesting police brutality and racial injustice. But there is another epidemic in this country that must be addressed, and it must ...

By Dianne Anderson Global protests now in week three of the cold-blooded police killing of George Floyd galvanized Black leaders nationally, and pressing local organizations to address racism, public health and public safety on all fronts. Rethink Public Safety San Bernardino Coalition (RPSSB) is leading the charge to initiate change. Last month, the coalition mobilized ...

By Dianne Anderson As the COVID-19 death toll continues to rise in the Black community, Riverside activists are urgently pressing to form a countywide African American task force to address racism as a public health crisis. Community activist Corey Jackson said that his organization, Sigma Beta Xi, along with Riverside NAACP, COPE. Riverside County Black ...

By Dianne Anderson What could be worse than racism? Apparently one of its many side effects — chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is blamed for the root cause of a number of diseases, like cancer, arthritis, depression, heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. Last month, USC and UCLA researchers unveiled their recent RNA tests connecting the stress ...

Teen Panel to Lead Conversations on Race, Ethnicity, Gender Identity, Immigration Status Let’s Talk! Ethnic and racial tensions and discrimination are raging in our communities and schools. “Racism is hidden in plain sight,” states a prominent student from John W. North High School. Other students assert: “Racism is one of the biggest issues… People don’t ...

By Dianne Anderson African Americans and Latinos may have their share of differing opinions or political stances, but one area where both groups readily agree is that racist hatred will not be tolerated at their school. A recent hate message to former principal Crecia Robinson, a three-time victim of racist messages at Lankershim Elementary School ...

By Derrick Johnson “Segregation and poverty have created in the racial ghetto a destructive environment totally unknown to most white Americans. What white Americans have never fully understood but what the Negro can never forget—is that white society is deeply implicated in the ghetto. White institutions created it, white institutions maintain it, and white society ...