Ray B. Shackelford Elected as 10th National President of National Urban League Young Lynn Swann Resigns As USC’s Professionals (See page A-3) Athletic Director (See page C-2) VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 VOL. LXXXV NO. 37, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax“For Over “For Eighty Over Eighty Years Years, The Voice The Voiceof Our of CommunityOur Community Speaking Speaking for forItself Itself.” THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 You better get ready Taste of Soul Nation because Sheryl is ready for you! BY BRIAN W. CARTER the start of season two. She Contributing Writer sits alongside hosts Sara Gilbert, Sharon Osbourne, Taste of Soul is proud Eve, Carrie Ann Inaba and to announce comedian, Marie Osmond as they dis- entertainer and television cuss topical events and con- personality, Sheryl Under- temporary issues. wood as this year’s co-chair. While being a host on Underwood will bring her “the Talk,” it’s received warm, down-to-earth and the Daytime Emmy for effervescent personality to Best Talk Show and an- Crenshaw Blvd with over other Daytime Emmy for 350,000 festival attendees. Outstanding Talk Show/ She shared with the Senti- Entertainment and multiple nel what it means for her to Emmy nominations. As a made a co-chair of Taste of result of the success of the Soul. show, Underwood received “Beyond winning a day- a Daytime Emmy Award as time Emmy—which was a host and a contract renewal good thing, beyond winning through the year 2021. a NAACP Award—which A multi-faceted, multi- was a good thing—this has media entrepreneur, busi- got to be the biggest thing nesswoman and philanthro- in the world, in my life,” pist, Underwood is CEO of said Underwood. “Taste of Pack Rat Productions, Inc. Soul, to be the co-chair of which is a strategic market- something that has all these ing and brand development big-time dignitaries and firm based in Los Angeles, politicians—plus, 350,000 California. She holds four Angelenos coming together, honorary doctorates from this is going to be the event Benedict College in Co- of the year.” lumbia, SC, South Carolina Underwood was born in State University in Orange- Little Rock, Arkansas and burg, SC, the University of joined CBS’ Daytime tele- {See UNDERWOOD A-4} vision show, “The Talk,” at Sheryl Underwood COURTESY PHOTO STAFF REPORT a higher level of student achievement.” Dr. George McKenna He spoke of his pride kicked off his re-election and some the many ac- campaign for LAUSD complishments that have School Board, District 1, been made: Increased Sunday, August 25. Before graduation and college ad- an energetic and enthusi- mission rates, particularly astic crowd, Dr. McKenna for low income and his- spoke of his intent to con- torically underachieving tinue serving students and students;Initiated Board families in his district for a action to adopt a distric- second term. twide “Zero Drop Out” Mckenna said, “when policy; Reduced student I ran for school board in suspension rates in all 2014, it was from a desire schools; LAUSD Part- COURTESY PHOTO to continue my lifelong ner with SLATE-Z, The South Coast Air Quality Management District Chair- goal of improving educa- Schmidt Family Founda- man, Dr. William Burke {See FULL STORY A-4} tion in our community to {See McKENNA A-8} COURTESY PHOTO Dr. George McKenna The democratic presidential candidate’s new plan to end mass incarceration, eliminate profit from the justice system and more. BY LAUREN FLOYD that support for reform spans candidate, Kamala Harris Staff Writer all sides of the political is speaking out with a so- spectrum—with 68 percent lution to overhaul the se- Criminal justice reform of Republicans, 78 percent verely flawed institution remains a pressing concern of Independents and 80 per- if she becomes president. for American citizens re- cent of Democrats support- Harris is no stranger gardless of political affili- ing criminal justice system to the criminal justice ations. A recent study con- reform. With an issue so system. In the late 1980s ducted by Public Opinion urgent to the nation, 2020 and early 1990s, she Strategies on behalf of Jus- Democratic presidential started her career work- tice Action Network, found candidates are being called ing in prosecutors’ of- upon to explain how they fices. Harris then became will fix the system in which San Francisco’s district more than 2.3 million people attorney, the top prosecu- are incarcerated and where tor for the city, in 2004. African American citizens In 2011, she became Cal- are disproportionately and PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMALA HARRIS CAMPAIGN. ifornia’s attorney general, excessively imprisoned and Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Kamala Harris aims to end mass incar- criminalized. Democratic ceration in her new criminal justice reform plan. {See HARRIS A-8} www.lasentinel.net E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 ‘Hair Love’ is Now in Theaters A short film about a Black father and daughter captures the heart of audiences seeing ‘Angry Birds 2.’ shown before and he thought that it would be great to make an animation film about it. After writing the script, Cherry sent it to his friend Peter Ramsey, an advocate for diversity in ani- mation and Oscar award- winning director of “Spider- Man: Into the Spider- Verse.” “When I did the script and was ready to make it into a real thing, Peter was one of the first people that I sent it to for feedback. I always had animation in mind because it is a more universal medium that peo- PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF CASIMIR SPENCER ple relate to,” said Cherry. Writer of “Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry, speaking at a “You rarely see a Black fam- “Hair Love” event. ily in animation, so it was really important to me to BY SHANNEN HILL and relatability of Black have that representation.” Contributing Writer fatherhood to a broad audi- Ramsey liked the script ence. so much that instead of just “Hair Love,” a new ani- Matthew A. Cherry was giving feedback, he came on mated short showing the inspired to write “Hair board as executive producer. love between a Black father Love” about two years ago Getting support from other and daughter, is now in the- after seeing viral videos of Hollywood stars came natu- aters. Premiering right Black fathers doing their rally as well. Cherry created before “Angry Birds 2,” the daughter’s hair. It was a rep- a Kickstarter campaign for COURTESY PHOTO animated short gives insight resentation that hadn’t been “Hair Love” and reached his goal of $75,000 within the first five days. Some of the donators included Gabrielle Union, Dwyane Wade, Yara Shahidi, and Jordan Peale. Issa Rae also came on board to be the sole voice in the animated short. “The way ‘Hair Love’ came about was so fresh and straight from the heart. Matt had a vision and he just pur- sued it. He didn’t wait for anyone to give him permis- sion, and he wasn’t an ani- mation insider. It was pure passion and drive on his part that made it happen,” said Ramsey. “I believed in the project and wanted it to PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF CASIMIR SPENCER become a reality because it’s Matthew A. Cherry (left) and Peter Ramsey (right) bring “Hair Love” to theaters. an intimate look at some- PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF CASIMIR SPENCER Matthew A. Cherry’s “Hair Love” gives a new look into thing that is very normal and Black fatherhood. happens every day in the WWW.IMWLAW.COM real world, but hardly ever What has surprised him have shared how they go seen in movies, especially most is the relatability of the through the same thing in animated ones.” film to audiences of differ- their families. “Hair Love” centers ent races. While the film is “Sometimes as a film- around a Black father, written, directed and pro- maker you think that you Stephen, and his daughter, duced by Black people; have to be so broad to Zuri. Stephen has long locks men, women, and children appeal to everybody, but and Zuri has an afro which of all different backgrounds there’s a universal appeal in being specific,” said Cherry. “Little girls have told me how they see them- selves in Zuri and boys have told me how they want to be a father like Stephen. It’s been amazing seeing how everyone relates to this story.” #1 BLACK-OWNED FIRM IN CALIFONRIA Along with the short film, Cherry’s Kickstarter PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES campaign resulted in a book TO THE COMMUNITY deal. “Hair Love,” the book, is a New York Times best- SINCE 1943 seller and available at Tar- get, Walmart, Barnes & Noble, and on Kindle. The short film can be seen in the- aters before “Angry Birds 2.” For more information on PHOTO CREDIT: COURTESY OF CASIMIR SPENCER Cherry and “Hair Love,” Matthew A. Cherry with a “Hair Love” fan at one of the visit matthewacherry.com. Hair Love events. his wife usually styles. However, when mom is not available right before a big event, Stephen has to figure out what to do. The five- minute film is mostly silent with the exception of Issa Rae, who plays an online natural hair blogger. Cherry had been a fan of Rae since her YouTube days and thought that she’d be a great fit because of her influence Rodney S. Diggs, Byron Michael Purcell, Marie Maurice, in the natural hair communi- W. Keith Wyatt and Rickey Ivie ty and her distinct voice.