www.lasentinel.net Congratulations Dr. Danny J. Bakewell, Sr. An Education Giant Succumbs - Judy Ivie (See page A-3) Burton (See page A-13) VOL. LXXXI NO. 21 $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself” THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER MAY 25,17, 20172015 ALLISON SHELLEY/TV ONE Marc Morial, National Urban League president/CEO SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE decades, The State of Black America®, has For the first time become one of the in Urban League his- most highly-anticipated tory, its annual State of benchmarks and sources Black America report for thought leadership is the basis for a nation- around racial equality in ally-televised special. America across econom- Moderated by News ics, employment, edu- One Now Host and Man- cation, health, housing, aging Editor Roland criminal justice and civic FREDDIE ALLEN/AMG/NNPA Martin, “National Urban participation,” National Cornell Brooks served as president of the NAACP for three years. This photo was taken during a 2016 meeting be- League Presents: State of Urban League President tween civil right leaders and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Black America® Town and CEO Marc H. Mo- Hall” was produced in rial said. “Now, thanks NAACP National Board Makes Dramatic Move to Regain Relevance partnership with TV to TV One and our other One and premieres on partners, we’re thrilled BY LAUREN VICTORIA BURKE national board vote to part contacted by the NNPA tion since May 2014. Some the network Wednesday, to be able to bring the NNPA Newswire Contributor ways with their president, Newswire were shocked NAACP insiders said that May 31 at 8 p.m. ET. conversation to a much Cornell William Brooks? to hear the news. Brooks, there was a lack of com- “Over the last four {See TV ONE A-8} Why did the NAACP’s Several longtime members 56, has served in the posi- {See NAACP A-8} BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT Staff Writer SPECIAL TO THE SENTINEL Making a difference Fred W. Valentine was aptly describes the three born in Glen Flora, Texas recipients of the 2017 Vi- on January 22, 1919, to COURTESY PHOTO sion Awards presented Effie and Frank Valentine. Fred W. Valentine by the African American He moved to Pasadena, Board Leadership Institute California, when he was ence in 1942, and from (AABLI). seven-years-old and grew Pasadena Junior College, Fred Ali, Janet Clayton up around his uncle’s busi- West Campus, with an and Cheryl Boone Isaacs ness, James Woods Mortu- A.A. Degree in Business. were recognized for their ary. Fred was a licensed fu- leadership and commit- When he was 18-years- neral director and embalm- ment to diversity and in- old, his uncle asked him er and co-owned Woods- clusion at the AABLI’s 5th what he was going to do Valentine Mortuary with annual Tribute Reception when he graduated and his wife, Arzella, since held May 17 at City Club Fred said he wanted to be 1954. For many years, in Los Angeles. LEROY HAMILTON an architect. His “Uncle they worked closely with The event, which AAB- From left are Virgil Roberts, AABLI chair; Janet Clayton, SVP of Corporate Com- Jimmy” convinced him his brothers, Clifton Val- LI holds to acknowledge munications, Edison International and SCE; Cheryl Boone Isaacs, president that a profession as a mor- entine and James Adkins; individuals who open the of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences; Fred Ali, president/CEO tician was worth consider- Arzella’s sister, Vannie doors of opportunity to of Weingart Foundation; and Yvette Chappell-Ingram, AABLI president/CEO. ing. Brown and with longtime shape positive change, re- Fred agreed and gradu- friends, Laven Lanier and flected the group’s mission African Americans on nonprofit, public and private gov- leaders who astutely move ated from the California James Barker and many to recruit, prepare and as- erning boards. the needle of change in College of Mortuary Sci- {See VALENTINE A-8} sist with the placement of “The three honorees are great examples of thought {See AABLI A-8} COURTESY PHOTO Crystal Taylor, who was murdered at her Hawthorne apart- ment in 2001, and her accused killer, Derek Paul Smyer. CITY NEWS SERVICE of parole for a man con- victed of the 2001 kill- KIMBERLEE BUCK/L.A. SENTINEL A jury deadlocked ings of a pregnant woman (From left) L.A. Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times managing editor Brandon I. Brooks, NABJ- last Thursday on whether and her unborn son at her LA president Tre’velle Anderson, KJLH host Dominique DiPrima and Blavity representative to recommend the death Hawthorne apartment. Shane Bernard participated in the “Black Media Matters: The State of Black News Outlets.” penalty or life in prison The Los Angeles Su- without the possibility {See JURY A-8} A-2 LOSANGELESSENTINEL NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 After SIDS Tragedy, Keisha Keller Assemblymember Returns to Graduate with Her Mother from California State University, Sebastian Ridley- Dominguez Hills Thomas Recognizes BY PAUL BROWNING Special to the Sentinel 40 Emerging Civic Looking forward to tak- ing her last final exam and graduating from California State University, Dominguez Leaders in Los Angeles Hills (CSUDH) last year, Keisha Keller put her baby boy down to sleep. A few hours later, all thoughts of the test and commencement van- ished in the face of unthink- able tragedy after she found her child had passed away Keisha Keller (l) and her mother, Cynthia Perry. from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). human resources. “During much. I just wasn’t ready. Recently Keller joined our first semester at Cal State The first time someone did her mother Cynthia Perry to Dominguez Hills all of our ask, I froze. I didn’t know graduate from CSUDH classes were together. It was what to say,” said Keller. together on May 19, just a lot of fun.” “The following semester, I three days after the one-year As they progressed in began taking classes online anniversary of the death of their studies, the strength of and finished my degree that Keller’s baby, Legend Aure- their relationship and way. That’s also when I took COURTESY PHOTO lius Jackson. “friendship” always helped the courses to earn my minor “I felt helpless when my them support each other to in computer science.” SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE baby passed, but I didn’t feel achieve their academic goals, Graduating together is hopeless. It was very hard as it did May 16, 2016, when another way for Keller and Last week, Assemblymember Sebastian Ridley-Thomas recognized Los Angeles’ right after (he passed), but I the close-knit mother and Perry to mark Legend’s life change makers who are under the age of 40 at the 2017 “40 Emerging Civic Leaders knew I had to continue—I daughter faced the tragedy, in a positive way, and they Under 40’ Awards. Hosted in collaboration with the Empowerment Congress and the didn’t want my baby’s pass- and it was that bond that both look forward to what Office of Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas, the award reception ing to be in vain,” said helped them stay strong and comes next. highlighted Los Angeles' up-and-coming leaders who are paving the way in advocacy, Keller, an entrepreneur sustained them in the face of Keller already has her governance, philanthropy, and private industry. major and computer science deep sorrow. own cosmetology business The Full List of 2017 Honorees Include: minor. “I’m very rooted in An Awkward Return and would like to expand it • Adel Syed; Chief Development Officer, UMMA Clinic Keller returned to God, and I knew that he after graduation, and her • Aide Castro; City Councilmember, Lynwood CSUDH to finish her degree would see me through, and I experience with SIDS has • Albert Rhee; Senior Vice President, Active USA Inc. the semester following Leg- knew I had things to live for, sparked her interest in non- • Alex Martin Johnson; Managing Director, California for Safety and Justice end’s death, but it was an like my family. I feel that profit work. Perry is interest- • Andrea Iloulian; Senior Program Officer, Domestic Programs, Conrad N. Hilton “awkward time” for her. they draw some of their ed in teaching at the college Foundation Many parents who lose a strength from me.” level, working with freshman • Brian Hui; Program Coordinator, Special Services for Groups, PhD Candidate, child to SIDS experience Keller and her mother, in particular to assist them in USC, Co-Chair and Executive Committee member, Empowerment Congress some guilt, says Keller, but both business administration developing their academic • Charity Chandler-Cole; Director of Contracts, AIDS Health Foundation she soon realized the tragedy majors, began attending plans and dreams. • Chris Ko; Director of Homeless Initiative, United Way was out of her control. CSUDH together in the fall “I’m so proud of my • Christian Hebrard; President, Black Young Democrats “At that point I was tak- of 2014. “I remember when daughter,” says Perry. • Cinthia Flores; Dream Resource Center Project Director, UCLA Labor Center. ing classes with the same stu- I started getting excited about “She’s a woman of integri- • Coach Sean McVay; Head Coach, LA Rams dents each semester, so they my classes in community ty, virtue; a real woman of • Connie Chung Joe; Executive Director, Korean American Family Services knew I had been pregnant. I college and my older daugh- her word. She’s very (KFAM) really didn’t want them to ter [Keller] said ‘I think it strong. Stronger than I am. • Courtney La Bau; Consultant at CSIS ask, ‘How’s the baby?’ So I would be good to go back to As a parent, you always • Devin Osiri; Political Coordinator, LA County Federation of Labor (AFL-CIO) avoided people, sat in the school, too.