Civil Rights Icon and Congressman John Lewis Serena Williams aces AP Announces Cancer Diagnosis Female Athlete of the Decade (See page A-7) honors (See page C-1) VOL. LXXXVI NO. 1, $1.00 +CA. Sales Tax “For Over Eighty Years, The Voice of Our Community Speaking for Itself.” THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 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 SENTINEL EXCLUSIVE Rapper partners with Union Rescue Mission and Faithful Central Bible Church to worship with homeless individuals Photo Credit:Thandiwe Abdullah Sherilyn Haynes, mother of #ChristopherDeAn- dreMitchell, killed by Torrance police 12/9/18, prepar- ing to join march. BY MELINA ABDULLAH delJones, a mother of two Black Lives Matter Co- who struggled with her founder mental health, was hunted and killed by LAPD after In 2014, #JohnCrawford she was accused of stealing was killed by police in-$80 from a local pharmacy side of a Walmart store inin 2015. #DennisTod- Beaverton, Ohio. He wasdRogers and #AlbertRa- criminalized for holding amonDorsey were both toy gun, that was Walmartmurdered inside the Los merchandise, as he Angeles area 24-Hour Fit- shopped. #YuvetteHender- ness locations where they son was gunned down bywere members in 2018 and police in 2015 in the park-2019 respectively. Time VALERIE GOODLOE/L.A. SENTINEL ing lot of a Home Depotand in time again, we see Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, left, pastor of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, and Kanye West at the Sun- Emeryville, California, ac- White capitalism relying day Service on Dec. 29, at the Union Rescue Mission. cused of shoplifting. #Re- {See FULL STORY A-8} {See #BLACK A-10} BY SHAQUILLE WOODS Contributing Writer Ava DuVernay, the cre- ative force behind “Selma” and critically acclaimed documentary “When They See Us,” is expanding her effort to bring Black rep- resentation to the arts. This time, she collaborates with the Oprah Winfrey Network again for the upcoming ro- mantic series titled “Cherish COURTESY PHOTO The Day.” The historic launch of the BNC will fulfill the business The romantic anthology dream and vision of a nationally known entrepreneur and drama follows the relation- COURTESY PHOTO former Oklahoma Representative to the United States ship of one couple that spans Ava DuVernay executive produces “Cherish The Day.” Congress, J.C. Watts, Jr. a single day. Each episode dives deep into the complex- DuVernay continues ment female heads. The Creative Campus. BY STACY M. BROWN tion’s only 24-hour news ity behind relationships. The bringing women of color show debuts February 2020 LOS ANGELES SENTI- NNPA Newswire Senior and information television first season uncovers the both in front and behind on the OWN Network. NEL (LAS): We are here Correspondent network focused primar- interactions between Gen- the screens. “Cherish The The Los Angeles Senti- at the ARRAY Creative ily on African Americans. tly James, played by Xosha Day” reached full gender nel Newspaper spoke with Campus. What would On January 6, 2020, The historic launch of the Roquemore, and Evan Fish- parity with a production DuVernay along with Mill- you say to someone who the Black News Channel BNC will fulfill the busi- er, played by Alano Miller, crew of over 50% women. er and Roquemore about is struggling to find suc- (BNC) will become the na- while living in Los Angeles. She also added 18 depart- the series at the ARRAY {See BLACK NEWS A-10} {See CHERISH A-10} Trump Signs Future Act to Help HBCUs, Minority-Serving Institutions BY STACY M. BROWN empower Historically Black serve first-generation and plication for Federal Stu- NNPA Newswire Senior Colleges and Universities minority students. This dent Aid, or FAFSA. The Correspondent (HBCUs) across the country. action guarantees more Internal Revenue Service The President put his than $2.5 billion over the will now seamlessly trans- One day after the House signature on the Future Act, next 10 years, including fer applicants’ records to impeached him, President legislation that for the time $850 million specifically the Department of Educa- Donald Trump took deci- includes HBCUs in the fed- for HBCUs,” the President tion, so that families can sive action to support and eral 5-year STEM Educa- stated. use a simpler, shorter ap- tion Plan and the National He continued: plication for financial aid Research and Development “Today’s achievement and those with student Budget Priorities. continues my unprecedent- loans do not have to com- “When I took office, I ed commitment to HBCUs. plete a cumbersome in- promised to fight for HB- During my first weeks in come certification process CUs, and my Administration office, I moved the HBCU year after year. continues to deliver,” Trump initiative, led by Johna- “This is a transforma- stated. than Holifield, to the White tive change that has been “A few months ago, fund- House and worked with talked about in Washing- ing for HBCUs was in jeop- Congress to increase fund- ton for more than a decade, ardy. But the White House ing for HBCUs by more but everyone always said it and Congress came together COURTESY PHOTO than $100 million. HB- could not be done. We got and reached a historic agree- The Fostering Undergraduate Talent by Unlocking CUs have never had better it done.” ment. For the first time ever, Resources for Education – or Future Act – means that, champions in the White HBCUs will now play I signed legislation to perma- under the President’s administration, investment in House. an essential part in federal www.lasentinel.net nently fund HBCUs and oth- HBCU programs has significantly increased under Title “The bill I signed today er institutions that primarily III of the Higher Education Action of 1965. also reforms the Free Ap- {See HBCU A-13} E. MESIYAH MCGINNIS/L.A. SENTINEL A-2 LASENTINEL.NET NEWS THURSDAY, JANUARY 2, 2020 Michael Wilkins rose to the occasion Representing women of color on the royal court of Pasadena Rose Tournament. PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES From left to right: Cole Fox (South Pasadena High School), Michael Wilkins (Maranatha High School), Emilie Risha PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy), Rose Queen Camille Kennedy (La Salle College Preparatory), Reese Rosental Sapor- Michael Wilkins ito (Marshall Fundamental School), Rukan Saif (Arcadia High School), and Mia Thorsen (Marshall Fundamental School). BY BETTI HALSELL dous determination and an in a successful political she has discovered a deep Contributing Writer extraordinary gift for lead- career, she has been love for being involved. ership. She is steadfast on involved in debate pro- Every time Michael joins a Michael Wilkins at sev- her mission to inspire oth- grams and a number of team or participates, she enteen-years-old has ers and grow the communi- ambassador events. Wilkins seems to have a way with already displayed tremen- ty spirit. Showing promise is anticipating positive her words that energetically growth within her historic promote action from her city; she is reigning peers. She distinguished Princess of the Pasadena her power in speaking Rose Royal Court. Over when she joined her high- 1,000 women between the school speech and debate ages of 17-21 applied; she team.Wilkins excelled and merely had 15 seconds to made it to the varsity explain why she should be speech level. apart of the royal court. Articulating and care- Michael blossomed vividly fully constructing her in front of the royal com- thoughts came naturally. mittee. She discloses how She has been the Mistress this experience shaped her of Ceremonies for The motivation to make a differ- Hazelle Catherine Bass 2019 ROSE PARADE ROYAL COURT PHOTO ence within her community. Institute for the ARTS Rose Coronation from right to left: Michael Wilkins, Michael is a senior at Annual Concert five years Camille Kennedy, and Cole Fox. Maranatha High School; in a row. Michael had to constantly sharpen her WWW.IMWLAW.COM impromptu skills as a young person in the spot- light with the reasonable expectation to deliver a cer- tain level of confidence while speaking. Little did she know she was prepar- ing for a more extensive role in her community. The time for Pasadena Tournament of Roses PASADENA TOURNAMENT OF ROSES sprouted this past Septem- Michael Wilkins at the rose coronation being presented by ber, Michael being drawn to her father Overton Wilkins the community festivities applied along with 1,000 to the next round along duty as an active chaperone other young talent looking with 249 other girls that with coaches and mentors. for a seat on the royal court. were selected out of the Princess Michael will The first round of inter- 1,000 candidates that be considered an official #1 BLACK-OWNED FIRM IN CALIFONRIA views came with the simple applied. ambassador for the Tourna- PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES question of their badge The interviews and ment of Roses and the number and “ why do you challenges dwindled down whole Pasadena communi- TO THE COMMUNITY want to be on the royal the competition, the com- ty. When asked how that court?” Each girl only had mittee tested their public makes her feel, she said in SINCE 1943 15 seconds to capture the speaking ability, academ- full transparency, “Over- royal court’s attention. ics, leadership and commu- whelmed...but with happi- According to the Tour- nity involvement. Two- ness.” Taking a few mean- nament of Roses website, hundred & fifty potential ingful minutes to reflect on when each independent candidates were put to the why she thinks she made it candidate met with the test; only 25 proceeded to this far, Wilkins shared that committee they are not the final stage.