Temptations Founder Otis Emma Sharif Elected Mayor of Williams Reflects on the Compton (See page C-2) Group’s 60th Anniversary VOL. LXXXVII NO. 22, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, the Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself.” THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 VOL. LXXVV, NO. 49 • $1.00 + CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 - 18, 2013 Foster says $100 Black art and culture infrastructure project to be ‘our very own’ economic catalyst, despite obstacles from COVID-19 pandemic Destination Crenshaw President and COO, Jason Foster COURTESY OF DESTINATION CRENSHAW BY RAYSHARD LINDSEY says Jason Foster, presi- thriving not just surviving.” catalyst for Black econom- as a way to respond to the of the city’s most histor- Special to the Sentinel dent & COO of Destination Foster, 37, who earned ic development along the devastating impacts of the ic neighborhoods as the Crenshaw, a community- his degree in finance at boulevard, but a model for Metro LAX line construc- cradle of Black American “Here’s this opportunity driven cultural infrastruc- Howard University, took urban place keeping across tion project along Crenshaw culture with spaces de- to engage the community ture project that recently the helm six months ago. the country. Foster said, “I and gentrification concerns voted to Black creativity, around a Black-led project broke ground along its He says he was drawn to the had to be a part of this.” around transit development. ingenuity, artistry and ar- that is squarely focused on namesake, legendary South role because of the project’s Destination Crenshaw Its visual impact will mean uplifting our community,” L.A. boulevard. “It’s about potential to not only be a was originally conceived permanently stamping one {See CRENSHAW A-10} 1921 murder of 300+ Blacks noted by Pres. Biden and reissue of a written account by Mary Parrish BY CORA JACKSON-FOSSETT lies elevated to the high- Staff Writer est level, many referred to the demonstrations as the May 31 marked the country’s “racial reckon- 100th anniversary of the ing.” Within that context, Tulsa race massacre, the the story of the rise and horrific slaughtering of fall of Greenwood was re- 300+ Blacks in Oklahoma vived. along with the total de- “Black Wall Street” struction of the Greenwood Oklahoma attracted district, also known as the many African Americans “Black Wall Street.” starting in the late 1870s While the tragic event and continuing into the was suppressed and con- early 1900s. After World cealed for decades, it cata- War I, many Blacks – pulted into the limelight whether veterans, educat- in 2020 as a result of the ed or unschooled – sought A Georgetown and Princeton University graduate, protests for the murder of places to call their own Chiquita Brooks-LaSure had served as managing direc- George Floyd by Minne- minus the discrimination tor at Manatt Health, where she focused on helping cli- apolis police officer Derek and bigotry rampant in the ents understand the implications of regulatory and leg- Chauvin. South. Tulsa was one of islative policies across private insurance, Medicaid, and As marches and ral- – Mary E. Jones Parrish TRINITY UNIVERSITY PRESS {See PARRISH A-11} Medicare. COURTESY PHOTO SEE FULL STORY A-10 Dent, SEIU 721 President, Passes at 68 SENTINEL NEWS SERVICE BY STACY M. BROWN NNPA Newswire Senior Linda Dent, a clerk in National Correspondent the Los Angeles County Two years ago, the National Newspaper Pub- lishers Association enthu- siastically elected a new national chair and an ex- ecutive committee with the promise of moving the or- ganization to new heights and re-invigorating the Black Press of America as Linda Dent SEIU 721 the trusted voice of Black Thanks to an experienced and dedicated all-women executive committee who as- communities across the na- cended to lead the national trade association, the NNPA has enjoyed perhaps two of Tax Collector’s Office, who tion. the most successful and productive years in its history. COURTESY PHOTO rose from a steward to become Less than a year into the first woman and first Black their two-year term, the tens of millions of indi- Throughout the 81- strong, executing steadfast president of SEIU 721, passed world was confronted with viduals fell ill, and nearly 4 year history of the NNPA resilience in the face of ad- away on May 31 from pancre- the first global pandemic in million people died. Black and 194 years of the Black versity and racism. atic cancer. She was 68-years- 100 years – COVID-19. businesses, in particular, Press of America, African Thanks to an experi- www.lasentinel.net {See DENT A-8} Businesses shuttered, were decimated. Americans have remained {See PRESS A-8} A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, JUNE 3, 2021 Biden-Harris Administration Steps up Efforts to Narrow Racial Wealth Gap BY STACY M. BROWN small, disadvantaged busi- development and rehabili- through homeownership gressional promise in the between 1980 and 2015,” the NNPA Newswire Senior nesses by 50 percent, translat- tation of affordable homes remains persistently un- Fair Housing Act to end dis- Administration said. National Correspondent ing to an additional $100 bil- for low- and moderate- equal,” administration offi- crimination in housing and “The impact of these dis- lion over five years and help- income homebuyers and cials stated. will collectively provide the parities in-home appraisals President Joe Biden and ing more Americans realize homeowners. “In his first week in legal framework for HUD to can be sweeping, limiting Vice President Kamala Harris their entrepreneurial dreams. • $5 billion for the office, President Biden issued require private and public homeowners’ ability to prop- are stepping up their efforts to erly benefit from refinancing narrow the racial wealth gap. or re-selling their homes at Following the President’s higher valuations and thereby visit to Oklahoma, where he contributing to the already- observed the centennial of sprawling racial wealth gap.” the Tulsa Race Massacre, the The President is also Administration announced it charging Housing and would reinvest in communi- Urban Development Secre- ties that failed policies have tary Marcia Fudge to lead a left behind. first-of-its-kind interagency Specifically, the Admin- initiative to address inequity istration is expanding access in home appraisals. to two key wealth-creators – The effort will seek to homeownership and small utilize, quickly, the many business ownership – in com- PHOTO: ISTOCKPHOTO / NNPA levers at the federal govern- munities of color and disad- The impact of these disparities in-home appraisals can be sweeping, limiting homeowners’ ability to properly benefit ment’s disposal. vantaged communities. from refinancing or re-selling their homes at higher valuations and thereby contributing to the already-sprawling racial These include potential wealth gap. “The President has been enforcement under fair and continues to be inten- housing laws, regulatory tional in his actions to nar- • The Administration Unlocking Possibilities Pro- a memorandum directing the entities alike to rethink action, and development of row the racial wealth gap,” also released new informa- gram, an innovative new U.S. Department of Housing established practices that standards and guidance in administration officials tion regarding President grant program that awards and Urban Development contribute to or perpetuate close partnership with noted in a media call. Biden’s American Jobs Plan flexible and attractive fund- (HUD) to address discrimina- inequities.” industry and state and local Biden is the first presi- proposals to create jobs and ing to jurisdictions that take tion in our housing market.” Additionally, the Biden- governments to root out dis- dent to visit the Greenwood build wealth in communi- steps to reduce needless barri- They continued: Harris Administration is tak- crimination in the appraisal District in Tulsa devastated ties of color: ers to producing affordable “Today, the Administra- ing on discrimination in and homebuying process. by White supremacists who • A new $10 billion housing and expand housing tion is announcing that it is home appraisals. “These are the kinds of murdered more than 300 Community Revitalization choices for people with low taking critical steps towards The White House point- policies and practices that African Americans and dec- Fund to support communi- or moderate incomes. realizing the President’s ed to a 2018 Brookings keep Black families in imated a thriving Black ty-led civic infrastructure • $31 billion in small directive. HUD has now study that found that homes Greenwood and across the business corridor in 1921. projects that create innova- business programs that will sent both its proposed rule in majority-Black neighbor- nation from building genera- The Administration said tive shared amenities, spark increase access to capital for on countering housing prac- hoods are often valued at tional wealth through home- Greenwood and areas new local economic activi- small businesses and provide tices with discriminatory tens of thousands of dollars ownership,” administration around the country that have ty, provide services, build mentoring, networking, and effects and its proposed less than comparable homes officials stated. a high concentration of community wealth, and other forms of technical interim final rule on the in similar – but majority- Visit https://www.white- minorities would benefit strengthen social cohesion. assistance