Los Angeles

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 11 2010

Golden State Mutual succumbs to ‘progress’

From the 1920s through the 1960s and most of the 1970s, people in the African American community would tell stories of the Golden State Mutual Life Insurance company (GSM) coming to the door to collect premiums.
Today, the once venerable Black business is on the brink of extinction, and a former president and chief executive officer says the reason why has been both bane and a blessing to the African American community.

Feb 11 2010

Blue Line station upgrades proposed

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) will hold its final community workshop Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon to discuss changes and upgrades to the Wilmington/Imperial/Rosa Parks Blue Line station.
The workshop will be held in the cafeteria at Ronald McNair Elementary School, 1450 W. El Segundo Blvd., Compton.

Feb 11 2010

Young, gifted and talented Caressa Cameron

Las Vegas, NV – This weekend was filled with tears, laughter, and pride as former Miss Virginia Caressa Cameron was crowned Miss America. The 22 year-old broadcast journalism student at Virginia Commonwealth University stunned America with her brilliant smile and amazing talent on stage at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.
Her proud parents stood in applause as the young woman excitedly accepted the title. She was given a $50,000 scholarship and has begun her year long journey to represent the organization.

Cynthia E. Griffin-  |   OW Managing Editor
Feb 11 2010

Inglewood to hold elections

The City of Inglewood begins accepting nominations Monday for candidates interested in finishing out the unexpired term of former Mayor Roosevelt Dorn.
Papers must be returned to the city clerk’s office by March 2.
Dorn was forced to retire because of a plea bargain agreement he made with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor count of conflict of interest involving a homeowner loan he took from a city program.

Aug 7 2009

Blacks most targeted group

According to last week’s Hate Crime Report, issued by the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, crimes motivated by hate increased in 2007 by 28 percent.

The annual report cited 763 hate crimes in 2007, of which 310 were against blacks. Gays and lesbians were the second (102) ; followed by Jews (78); Mexicans (71); Latinos (50); Caucasians (31); and Asian-Pacific (18).

Across Black America

Here’s a look at African American people and issues making headlines throughout the country.

California
San Diego college students and volunteers will carry out their sixth home restoration project on Wednesday, July 10 through Sunday, July 14. as part of the “Healing our Heroes’ Homes” (H3) program created by the nonprofit Embrace. The five-day effort will take place at the home of medically retired Marine Corps Capt. Sarah Bettencourt. Bettencourt served with many different units across the country during the Global War on Terrorism and developed a rare neurological disorder in 2008. With a focus to restore the homes of disabled veteran homeowners, H3 falls in line with Embrace’s mission to mobilize college-student volunteers and community members to serve less fortunate members of civilian and veteran communities. The project for the Bettencourts’ home includes kitchen and bathroom remodeling, building ADA-compliant disability ramps, widening their driveway to ADA standards, widening doorways and landscaping.
 
District of Columbia
The 2013 Smithsonian Folklife Festival will showcase its five-year community research project on African American identity with the program “The Will to Adorn: African American Diversity, Style, and Identity.” This multicity collaboration examines the history and culture of the aesthetics of African Americans. The festival will be held June 26-30 and July 3-7, outdoors on the National Mall between Seventh and 14th streets. “Whether we realize it or not, we are all dress artists. The way we compose our look is a creative expression of our ideas about who we are and who we aspire to be,” said Diana N’Diaye, program curator. “This program explores the diversity of African American traditions of style, but also teaches young people the importance of documenting their own culture and saving that information for themselves and future generations.”